Bertrand Russell Quotes

1872-1970, British Philosopher, Mathematician, Essayist
quotes
111
topics
12
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“Sin is geographical.”
Sin
“All human activity is prompted by desire.”
VerifiedWhat Desires Are Politically Important? (1950) · evidenceDesire
“Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery.”
Hope
“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
Wisdom
“One must care about a world one will not see.”
DisputedNo reliable early source found for Bertrand Russell. · evidenceResponsibility
“What men want is not knowledge, but certainty.”
Certainty
“Most people would rather die than think: many do.”
Death and Dying
“Anything you're good at contributes to happiness.”
Happiness
“No one gossips about other people's secret virtues.”
VerifiedOn Education, Especially in Early Childhood (1926), Ch. 2: The Aims of Education, p. 50 · evidenceGossip
“The only thing that will redeem mankind is cooperation.”
Cooperation
“Science is what you know, philosophy what you don't know.”
Science and Scientists
“Many people would sooner die than think. In fact they do.”
Thoughts and Thinking
“Even when the experts all agree, they may well be mistaken.”
Experts
“There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.”
VerifiedIn Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935) · evidenceKnowledge
“Happiness is not best achieved by those who seek it directly.”
Happiness
“What we need is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out.”
Belief
“Indignation is a submission of our thoughts, but not of our desires.”
VerifiedA Free Man's Worship (1903) · evidenceAnger
“Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education.”
Ignorance
“I am paid by the word, so I always write the shortest words possible.”
Writers and Writing
“Reason is a harmonizing, controlling force rather than a creative one.”
VerifiedMysticism and Logic and Other Essays (1918) · evidenceReason
“Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.”
Patriotism
“If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.”
Fools and Foolishness
“Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself secure.”
Freedom
“Men who are unhappy, like men who sleep badly, are always proud of the fact.”
VerifiedThe Conquest of Happiness (1930) · evidenceHappiness