Herbert Spencer, (1820-1903) British author, economist, philosopher Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [1-16] of 16 Herbert Spencer quotesHerbert Spencer QuotesHerbert Spencer 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.~ Herbert Spencer 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?~ Herbert Spencer The authoritarian sets up some book, or man, or tradition to establish the truth. The freethinker sets up reason and private judgment to discover the truth... It takes the highest courage to utter unpopular truths.~ Herbert Spencer The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.~ Herbert Spencer Feudalism, serfdom, slavery, all tyrannical institutions, are merely the most vigorous kind to rule, springing out of, and necessarily to, a bad state of man. The progress from these is the same in all cases -- less government.~ Herbert Spencer The liberty the citizen enjoys is to be measured not by governmental machinery he lives under, whether representative or other, but by the paucity of restraints it imposes upon him.~ Herbert Spencer The Republican form of government is the highest form of government; but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature -- a type nowhere at present existing.~ Herbert Spencer Be it or be it not true that Man is shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin, it is unquestionably true that Government is begotten of aggression, and by aggression.~ Herbert Spencer All socialism involves slavery.... That which fundamentally distinguishes the slave is that he labors under coercion to satisfy another's desires. The relation admits of many gradations. Oppressive taxation is a form of slavery of the individual to the community as a whole. The essential question is -- How much is he compelled to labor for other benefit than his own, and how much can he labor for his own benefit?~ Herbert Spencer There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is a proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance – that principle is condemnation before investigation.~ Herbert Spencer Hero-worship is strongest where there is least regard for human freedom.~ Herbert Spencer The greatest of all infidelities is the fear that the truth will be bad.~ Herbert Spencer The Republican form of government is the highest form of government; but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature -- a type nowhere at present existing.~ Herbert Spencer For what is meant by saying that a government ought to educate the people? Why should they be educated? What is the education for? Clearly, to fit the people for social life -- to make them good citizens. And who is to say what are good citizens? The government: there is no other judge. And who is to say how these good citizens may be made? The government: there is no other judge. Hence the proposition is convertible into this -- a government ought to mold children into good citizens, using its own discretion in settling what a good citizen is and how the child may be molded into one.~ Herbert Spencer Liberty is not the right of one, but of all.~ Herbert Spencer Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions.~ Herbert Spencer Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print