Herbert Spencer Quotations

The chief arguments that are urged against an established religion, may be used with equal force against an established charity. The dissenter submits, that no party has a right to compel him to contribute to the support of doctrines, which do not meet his approbation. The rate-payer may as reasonably argue, that no one is justified in forcing him to subscribe towards the maintenance of persons, whom he does not consider deserving of relief.

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

There is no origin for the idea of an afterlife, save the conclusion which the savage draws from the notion suggested by dreams.

The "Creed of Christendom" is alien to my nature, both emotional and intellectual.

So far from science being irreligious, as many think, it is the neglect of science that is irreligious-it is the refusal to study the surrounding creation that is irreligious.

The idea of disembodied spirits is wholly unsupported by evidence, and I cannot accept it.

The cruelty of a Fijian god, who, represented as devouring the souls of the dead, may be supposed to inflict torture during the process, is small compared with the cruelty of a God who condemns men to tortures which are eternal.

There can be little question that good composition is far less dependent upon acquaintance with its laws, than upon practice and natural aptitude. A clear head, a quick imagination, and a sensitive ear, will go far towards making all rhetorical precepts needless.

The essential trait in the moral consciousness, is the control of some feeling or feelings by some other feeling or feelings.

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