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Herbert Spencer Quotes

Philosopher

Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, sociologist, and writer, best known for his theory of social Darwinism. His ideas had a profound impact on social and political theories of the late 19th century.

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Famous Herbert Spencer Quotes

“They who employ force by proxy are as much responsible for that force as though they employed it themselves.”

“Liberty is not the right of one, but of all.”

Liberty

Book:Social Statics; Or, The Conditions Essential to Human Happiness Specified, & the First of Them Developed

Source: Social Statics; Or, The Conditions Essential to Human Happiness Specified, & the First of Them Developed

“Every man may claim the fullest liberty to exercise his faculties compatible with the possession of like liberties by every other man.”

Men May Liberty Exercise Claims Possession Every Man Faculty Compatible

Author:Herbert Spencer

“All socialism involves slavery.”

Liberty Slavery Libertarian Socialism Libertarianism

Book:Spencer: Political Writings

Source: Spencer: Political Writings

“The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.”

“If men use their liberty in such a way as to surrender their liberty, are they thereafter any the less slaves? If people by a plebiscite elect a man despot over them, do they remain free because the despotism was of their own making?”

People Ifs Men Way Use Government Freedom Liberty Slave Surrender Despotism Despots

Book:Spencer: Political Writings

Source: Spencer: Political Writings

“A man's liberties are none the less aggressed upon because those who coerce him do so in the belief that he will be benefited.”

Men Belief Freedom Liberty Libertarian Libertarianism Coerce

Book:The Principles of Ethics

Source: The Principles of Ethics

“The society exists for the benefit of its members; not its members for the benefit of the society.”

Existence Liberty Members Benefits Libertarian Libertarianism

Author:Herbert Spencer

“However insignificant the minority, and however trifling the proposed trespass against their rights, no such trespass is permissible.”

Liberty Rights Libertarian Minorities Libertarianism Insignificant Trifling

Book:The Right to Ignore the State

Source: The Right to Ignore the State

“I emphasize the reply that the liberty which a citizen enjoys is to be measured, not by the nature of the governmental machinery he lives under, whether representative or other, but by the relative paucity of the restraints it imposes on him.”

Enjoy Liberty Citizens Libertarian Libertarianism Representatives Restraint Machinery

Author:Herbert Spencer

About the Author

Born: April 27, 1820
Died: December 8, 1903
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 198

Books & Sources

Social Statics; Or, The Conditions Essential to Human Happiness Specified, & the First of Them DevelopedRelated source material

Social Statics: Great EssaysRelated source material

First PrinciplesRelated source material

The Study of SociologyRelated source material

Education: Intellectual, Moral, and PhysicalRelated source material

The Data of Ethics: Great EssaysRelated source material

The Man versus the State: Great EssaysRelated source material

An Autobiography: By Herbert SpencerRelated source material

Essays: Scientific, Political and SpeculativeRelated source material

The Principles of Ethics - Completed: Great EssaysRelated source material

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