WIST Quotations

Spencer, Herbert -- “Representative Government — What Is It Good For?” Westminster Review (Oct 1857)

Dave — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:40:05 +0000

The original and essential office of government is that of protecting its subjects against aggression external and internal.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
“Representative Government — What Is It Good For?” Westminster Review (Oct 1857)

Spencer, Herbert -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
(Attributed)

Spencer, Herbert -- Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical, ch. 3 (1860)

Dave — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:54:46 +0000

All theories of morality agree in considering that conduct whose total results, immediate and remote, are beneficial, is good conduct; while conduct whose total results, immediate and remote, are injurious, is bad conduct. The happiness or misery caused by it are the ultimate standards by which all men judge of behavior.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical, ch. 3 (1860)

Spencer, Herbert -- Essays Scientific, Political and Speculative (1891)

Dave — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:19:40 +0000

Those who cavalierly reject the Theory of Evolution, as not adequately supported by facts, seem quite to forget that their own theory is supported by no facts at all.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
Essays Scientific, Political and Speculative (1891)

Spencer, Herbert -- Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative Vol. 3, ch. IX, “State Tamperings with Money and Banks” (1891)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

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

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative Vol. 3, ch. IX, “State Tamperings with Money and Banks” (1891)

This essay is also cited to be found in Essays: Moral, Political and Aesthetic (1866).

Spencer, Herbert -- First Principles, Pt. I “The Unknowable,” ch. 1 “Religion and Science”” (1862)

Dave — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:49:39 +0000

We too often forget that not only is there “a soul of goodness in things evil,” but very generally also, a soul of truth in things erroneous.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
First Principles, Pt. I “The Unknowable,” ch. 1 “Religion and Science”” (1862)
(Source)

Quoting Shakespeare.

Spencer, Herbert -- First Principles, pt. I “The Unknowable,” ch. 5 “The Reconciliation” (1862)

Dave — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:42:55 +0000

Volumes might be written upon the impiety of the pious.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
First Principles, pt. I “The Unknowable,” ch. 5 “The Reconciliation” (1862)

Full text.

Spencer, Herbert -- Social Statics, 3.20.6 (1851)

Dave — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:18:26 +0000

There is no more mischievous absurdity than this judging of actions from the OUTSIDE as they look to us, instead of from the INSIDE as they look to the actors; nothing more irrational than to criticize deeds as though the doers of them had the same desires, hopes, fears, and restraints as ourselves.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
Social Statics, 3.20.6 (1851)

Spencer, Herbert -- Social Statics, 3.21.7 (1851)

Dave — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:29:33 +0000

No apparatus of senators, judges, and police can compensate for the want of an internal governing sentiment. … No adminstrative sleight of hand can save us from ourselves.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
Social Statics, 3.21.7 (1851)

Spencer, Herbert -- The Data of Ethics, ch. 13 (1879)

Dave — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:42:44 +0000

A right rule of conduct must be one which may with advantage be adopted by all.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
The Data of Ethics, ch. 13 (1879)

Spencer, Herbert -- Letter to J. A. Skilton (10 Jan 1895)

Dave — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:16:20 +0000

Men are not rational beings, as commonly supposed. A man is a bundle of instincts, feelings, sentiments, which severally seek their gratification, and those which are in power get hold of the reason and use it to their own ends, and exclude all other sentiments and feelings from power.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
Letter to J. A. Skilton (10 Jan 1895)

Spencer, Herbert -- Letter to Sir Robert Giffin (17 May 1901)

Dave — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:21:45 +0000

Those who enslave other peoples enslave themselves.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist
Letter to Sir Robert Giffin (17 May 1901)