Herbert Spencer

A living thing is distinguished from a dead thing by the multiplicity of the changes at any moment taking place in it.

— Herbert Spencer

The more specific idea of Evolution now reached is -- a change from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity to a definite, coherent heterogeneity, accompanying the dissipation of motion and integration of matter.

— Herbert Spencer

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

— Herbert Spencer

Objects we ardently pursue bring little happiness when gained; most of our pleasures come from unexpected sources.

— Herbert Spencer

The preservation of health is a duty. Few seem conscious that there is such a thing as physical morality.

— Herbert Spencer

A jury is composed of twelve men of average ignorance.

— Herbert Spencer

Divine right of kings means the divine right of anyone who can get uppermost.

— Herbert Spencer

A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.

— Herbert Spencer

Life is the continuous adjustment of internal relations to external relations.

— Herbert Spencer

Love is life's end, but never ending. Love is life's wealth, never spent, but ever spending. Love's life's reward, rewarded in rewarding.

— Herbert Spencer

Marriage: A ceremony in which rings are put on the finger of the lady and through the nose of the gentleman.

— 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 bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold.

— Herbert Spencer

Science is organized knowledge.

— Herbert Spencer

Time is that which a man is always trying to kill, but which ends in killing him.

— Herbert Spencer

How often misused words generate misleading thoughts.

— Herbert Spencer

No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be perfectly happy till all are happy.

— Herbert Spencer

All socialism involves slavery. That which fundamentally distinguishes the slave is that he labours under coercion to satisfy anothers desires.

— Herbert Spencer

Education has for its object the formation of character. To curb restive propensities, to awaken dormant sentiments, to strengthen the perceptions, and cultivate the tastes, to encourage this feeling and repress that, so as finally to develop the child into a man of well proportioned and harmonious naturethis is alike the aim of parent and teacher.

— Herbert Spencer

As capital become international, international peace becomes a necessity.

— Herbert Spencer

War strengthens the central power and subordinates all interests to those of the state. Progress depends on the cessation of war.

— Herbert Spencer

Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions.

— Herbert Spencer