Herbert Spencer. 1820-1903. John Bartlett, comp. 1919. Familiar Quotations, 10th ed.

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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Herbert Spencer. (1820–1903)

We too often forget that not only is there “a soul of goodness in things evil,” 1 but very generally a soul of truth in things erroneous.

First Principles.

The fact disclosed by a survey of the past that majorities have been wrong must not blind us to the complementary fact that majorities have usually not been entirely wrong.

First Principles.

Volumes might be written upon the impiety of the pious.

First Principles.

We have unmistakable proof that throughout all past time, there has been a ceaseless devouring of the weak by the strong.

First Principles.

Survival of the fittest.

First Principles.

With a higher moral nature will come a restriction on the multiplication of the inferior.

First Principles.

Evil perpetually tends to disappear. 2

The Evanescence of Evil.

Morality knows nothing of geographical boundaries or distinctions of race.

The Evanescence of Evil.

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.

The Evanescence of Evil.

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.

The Americans.

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

State Tamperings with Money Banks.

If a single cell, under appropriate conditions, becomes a man in the space of a few years, there can surely be no difficulty in understanding how, under appropriate conditions, a cell may, in the course of untold millions of years, give origin to the human race. 3

Principles of Biology.

Note 1.
Shakespeare: Henry V, act iv. sc. i.
There is some soul of goodness in things evil
Would men observingly distil it out. [back]

Note 2.
Walt Whitman: Roaming in Thought. [back]

Note 3.
Tennyson: Maud.
As nine months go to the shaping an infant ripe for his birth,
So many a million of ages have gone to the making of man. [back]

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