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J.S. Mill's liberalism was an important and essential advance beyond the liberalism of Hobbes through his emphasis on the liberty of thought and discussion which dealt with the freedom to articulate one's opinions, the freedom to participate in intellectual, political, religious and general debates and arguments, and the freedom of the press, yet he remained essentially similar to Hobbes when he engaged the notion of the liberty of action by having attempted to distinguish …

…be left alone as his action was self-regarding but the former, would be punished not for the self-regarding original action of drinking, but for having neglected his public duty. Thus, in short, Mill's attempt to explain legitimate constraints on liberty rested upon a clearly defined sphere where a man could freely do as he pleased when what he did affected only himself and not others, and when he didn't violate any social or private obligation.