Liberalism has as its objective to establish and maintain a society in which the individual can develop his own personality in their ownway, or the realisation of ones self. This objective recognises the inequality of talents, the need for an equality of opportunity and does not seek to equalise material possessions amongst individuals by levelling downwards. Offering effective incentives to all raises material standards of all. It aims to provide material assistance to those who are incapable of maintaining themselves. Laissez-faire described, as full speed ahead and the devil take the hindmost is not Liberalism as it is violently opposed to the development of individual dignity.
Liberalism gives primary emphasis to the development of the spiritual qualities in the individual.
In consequence, individual freedom is fundamental to the Liberal Way. Such freedom is a relative state. When people elect to live together in a free society, to benefit by mutual companionship and talents, they elect also to make certain compromises on freedom. The crucial test is each individual may pursue their freedom, subject to the rights of others. As Immanuel Kant, the most influential liberal philosopher of the last century said, the goal of liberalism must be to maximise the freedom of all wholly consistent with the freedom of others.