Herbert Spencer Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Liberty is not the right of one, but of all."

by:	Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) British author, economist, philosopher
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Categories:	Liberty
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Reader comments about this quote:

Great Borg / socialist concept. If the one does not exist in liberty, the all can not. Liberty is inherent and inalienable in the individual (individually and in concert) It would be more accurate to say, if liberty were denied to any one, it would be denied to all. -- Mike, Norwalk
Mike, I agree. If the individual is not free, all also cannot be free. How can the embodiment of citizens posses a right when a single individual does not? In politics, there is no such thing as "all", because there will never be a time when everyone aligns themselves to one belief or agenda no matter what the issue is. What "all" actually means is majority. What the majority wants is regarded as what everyone wants. That is a democracy. But America was not founded as a democracy that is swayed by the interest of an oppressive and overbearing majority. America is a Republic, founded with the purpose of establishing justice and securing the blessings of liberty to each and every INDIVIDUAL. -- Publius
Maybe I'm reading this wrong but might he not be suggesting that each and every individual is entitled to liberty? Which I would qualify with "civil" Liberty. I checked the link (click on the name Herbert Spencer above) and he generally seems to be an advocate for Freedom and Liberty. -- J Carlton, Calgary
He might have said, "All for one and one for all." -- cal, lewisville, tx
Not sure of the context, but it sounds fishy to me. -- Howard, Bangkok