Charles Baudelaire, a well-known English poet, once said that "Nature... is nothing but the inner voice of personal interest”. The philosophical theme of self-interest has been a common idea among political thinkers for many years. In any matter related to the field of political philosophy, the role of self-interest within a society must be considered. The role of self-interest within a society is the basis of moral thinking which consists of weighing "the needs and obligations of an individual against the goods of the individual and, therefore, of the society” (The role of self-interest in political philosophy). Before confronting an issue within a society, a political thinker must decide whether people are ultimately interested or not. The government system of checks and balances was put in place to deal with the issue of self-interest. Political thinkers John Stuart Mill and John Locke unlocked the mysteries of what it meant to live and possess freedom, in which the self-interest of humanity does not impose the rights of others. Locke and Mills believed that to govern a society, people must enjoy freedom. The difference between these political thinkers lies in the degree of freedom people should be entitled to within a political society. In order to understand how Mill and Locke came to the conclusion about the degree of freedom a person should possess, we must understand what a political thinker perceives. as liberty and liberty. In John Locke's writings, The Second Treaties of Government, he states that "all men exist in a state of perfect liberty to order their actions and dispose of their property and person as they please, within the limits of the laws." of nature, without asking for time off or depending... middle of paper ...... Quoted "Charles Baudelaire Quotes - BrainyQuote." Famous Quotes on BrainyQuote. Internet. November 26, 2011. “Excerpts from John Stuart Mill, ON LIBERTY.” Ashland University. Internet. December 5, 2011. “John Locke: Second Treatise on Civil Government.” Hint. Internet. December 4, 2011. “Liberty Lanterns.” Liberty Lanterns | Illuminate the truth. Internet. November 26, 2011. “On the Liberty of John Stuart Mill.” Utilitarianism: past, present and future. Internet. November 26, 2011. .Social Apartheid in the Tri-Cities Bristol Virginia-Tennessee. Internet. November 26, 2011. .Web.