Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

Quotes

• I found one day in school a boy of medium size ill- treating a smaller boy. I expostulated, but he replied: ’The bigs hit me, so I hit the babies; that’s fair.’ In these words he epitomized the history of the human race.

• Organic life, we are told, has developed gradually from the protozoan to the philosopher, and this development, we are assured, is indubitably an advance. Unfortunately it is the philosopher, not the protozoan, who gives us this assurance.

• War does not determine who is right-only who is left.

• Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country.

• The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holders lack of rational conviction. Opinions in politics and religion are almost always held passionately.

• Civilized life has altogether grown too tame, and, if it is to be stable, it must provide a harmless outlets for the impulses which our remote ancestors satisfied in hunting.

• Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred than when it tries to stir up friendly feeling?

• Dora and I are now married, but just as happy as we were before.

• It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain options makes it impossible to earn a living.

• Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths.

• Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so.

• Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.

• One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.

• The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one, particularly if he plays golf.

• The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

• All movements go too far.

• I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.

• To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.

• Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

• In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.