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Quote by Herbert Spencer

“Equity knows no difference of sex. In its vocabulary the word man must be understood in a generic, and not in a specific sense.”

Book:Social Statics: Great Essays

Work

Social Statics: Great Essays

This book is a compilation of essays that delve into the realms of social and political philosophy, offering insights and analyses on various societal issues. more

Author

Herbert Spencer

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. more

“We have repeatedly observed that while any whole is evolving, there is always going on an evolution of the parts into which it divides itself; but we have not observed that this equally holds of the totality of things, which is made up of parts within parts from the greatest down to the smallest.”

Made Whole Evolution Evolve Divides Smallest Totality

Book:First Principles

Source: First Principles

“The primary use of knowledge is for such guidance of conduct under all circumstances as shall make living complete. All other uses of knowledge are secondary.”

Use Circumstances Primaries Guidance Use Of Knowledge

Book:Herbert Spencer on the Americans and the Americans on Herbert Spencer, report of his interview, and of the proceedings at the farewell banquet of Nov. 9, 1882. [With] Appendix

Source: Herbert Spencer on the Americans and the Americans on Herbert Spencer, report of his interview, and of the proceedings at the farewell banquet of Nov. 9, 1882. [With] Appendix

“Every pleasure raises the tide of life; every pain lowers the tide of life.”

Pain Pleasure Raises Tides

Book:The Data of Ethics: Great Essays

Source: The Data of Ethics: Great Essays

“Ethical ideas and sentiments have to be considered as parts of the phenomena of life at large. We have to deal with man as a product of evolution, with society as a product of evolution, and with moral phenomena as products of evolution.”

Men Ideas Deals Moral Products Evolution Sentiments Ethical

Book:Ethics of Individual Life

Source: Ethics of Individual Life

“As there must be moderation in other things, so there must be moderation in self-criticism. Perpetual contemplation of our own actions produces a morbid consciousness, quite unlike that normal consciousness accompanying right actions spontaneously done; and from a state of unstable equilibrium long maintained by effort, there is apt to be a fall towards stable equilibrium, in which the primitive nature reasserts itself. Retrogression rather than progression may hence result.”