Herbert Spencer Quotes


When men hire themselves out to shoot other men to order, asking nothing about the justice of their cause, I don’t care if they are shot themselves.


Citations

Herbert Spencer, 1820-1903, British Social Philosopher & Economist, Facts and Comments, “Patriotism”, 1902

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Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
  • Born: April 27, 1820
  • Died: December 8, 1903
  • Nationality: British
  • Profession: Philosopher

Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, biologist, anthropologist, and sociologist famous for his hypothesis of social Darwinism whereby superior physical force shapes history. Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. The term strongly suggests natural selection, yet Spencer saw evolution as extending into realms of sociology and ethics, so he also supported Lamarckism.