28 Famous Herbert Spencer Quotes (EDUCATION)

Top 12 Most Famous Herbert Spencer Quotes (BEST)

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. — The great aim of **education** is not **knowledge** but **action**.

The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future. — The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the **future**.

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation.

Society exists for the benefit of its members - not the members for the benefit of society. — Society exists for the benefit of its members – not the members for the benefit of society.

Those who have never entered upon scientific pursuits know not a tithe of the poetry by which they are surrounded.

When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has, the greater is his confusion. — When a man’s **knowledge** is not in order, the more of it he has, the greater is his confusion.

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

Opinion is ultimately determined by the feelings, and not by the intellect.

A function to each organ, and each organ to its own function, is the law of all organization.

Hero-worship is strongest where there is least regard for human freedom. — Hero-worship is strongest where there is least regard for human **freedom**.

The most important attribute of man as a moral being is the faculty of self-control.

Before he can remake his society, his society must make him.

16 Inspirational Herbert Spencer Quotes (SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST)

“This survival of the fittest which I have here sought to express in mechanical terms, is that which Mr. Darwin has called “natural selection”, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life.”
Herbert Spencer

This survival of the fittest implies multiplication of the fittest.

Be bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold.

Education is preparation to live completely. — **Education** is **preparation** to live completely.

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

Our lives are universally shortened by our ignorance.

How often misused words generate misleading thoughts.

In science the important thing is to modify and change one's ideas as science advances. — In science the important thing is to modify and **change** one’s ideas as science advances.

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. — **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.

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

Every cause produces more than one effect.

Civilization is a progress from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity toward a definite, coherent heterogeneity.

Whatever fosters militarism makes for barbarism; whatever fosters peace makes for civilization. — Whatever fosters militarism makes for barbarism; whatever fosters **peace** makes for civilization.

Only when Genius is married to Science can the highest results be produced.

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

Herbert Spencer Short Biography

Born on 27 April 1820 in Derby, Derbyshire, England, Herbert Spencer was a sociologist, philosopher, and is responsible for theorizing social Darwinism.

Spencer was tutored by his father and his uncle in his youth. In the late 1830s, he worked as a civil engineer, and during this time he wrote several journals.

From 1848-1853, Spencer was a sub-editor for The Economist, and in 1851 he published his first book entitled Social Statistics.

In 1873, Spencer started a series entitled Descriptive Sociology, the series would include information on social institutions of “primitive” and “civilized” varieties. This series was published in 1934, 31 years after his death.

Contrary to popular belief, Spencer coined the phrase “survival of the fittest”, not Charles Darwin, after reading Darwin’s work. Spencer theorized social Darwinism in the 1870s which applies this belief. (Source)

In 1857 Spencer published his essay; Progress: Its Laws and Cause, in the Westminster Review. This essay was a look into his views on evolution.

Herbert Spencer is believed to be the only philosopher to have sold over a million copies of his work during his lifetime. He was a great influence on leaders, doctors, engineers, physicists, and the everyday man.

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