According to Mill, it is vital for society to define the limits that public opinion should have over individual lives so it can, in essence, protect itself from itself by preventing the tyranny of the majority.

Socially speaking, the tyranny of the majority forces people to conform to general expectation rather than freely and naturally developing one’s individuality, which Mill believes is the most serious crime committed by society against individuals. Furthermore, the tyranny of the majority extends beyond politics-society, according to Mill, punishes its members for breeching custom or violating the opinions and beliefs of the majority (or at least those recognized as the majority), making it more insidious and difficult to protect oneself against than political oppression. This illustrates the political element of the tyranny of the majority.

Mill explains, “The will of the people practically means the will of the most numerous or the most active part of the people,” which emphasizes the fact that the actions of even the most democratic government only reflect the “will” of the politically active citizens, while those in the minority are forced to abide by these decisions.

Mill believes that there are two major forms of tyranny: political tyranny (as when a political leader takes too much control over individual lives of the citizens of the state) and social tyranny, which he calls “tyranny of the majority.” Mill admits that even when the political leaders of a state allow its citizens the right amount of individual liberty, society can still become a tyrant over itself.

Js mill on liberty