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Rightness expresses of actions, what straightness does of lines; and there can no more be two kinds of right action than there can be two kinds of straight line.

— Herbert Spencer

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Progress

More quotes by Herbert Spencer

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

Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative (1891)

Every man is free to do that which he wills, provided he infringes not the equal freedom of any other man.

The Principles of Ethics (1897)

All evil results from the non-adaptation of constitution to conditions. This is true of everything that lives.

Social Statics (1851)

The truth is, that those who have never entered upon scientific pursuits know not a tithe of the poetry by which they are surrounded.

Every man may claim the fullest liberty to exercise his faculties compatible with the possession of like liberties by every other man.

Social Statics (1851)

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You have to start with the truth. The truth is the only way that we can get anywhere. Because any decision-making that is based upon lies or ignorance can't lead to a good conclusion.

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Change based on principle is progress. Constant change without principle becomes chaos.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The History of Electricity is a field full of pleasing objects, according to all the genuine and universal principles of taste, deduced from a knowledge of human nature.

Joseph Priestley The History and Present State of Electricity (1767)

Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears.

Gillian Anderson

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Herbert Spencer (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.