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Bertrand Russell Quotes - Page 40

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The desire for legitimate offspring is, in fact, according to the Catholic Church, the only motive which can justify sexual intercourse.

The desire for legitimate offspring is, in fact, according to the Catholic Church, the only motive which can justify sexual intercourse.

Bertrand Russell
Catholic, Church, Desire
Bertrand Russell (2014). “Bertrand Russell's Best”, p.43, Routledge

The Eugenic Society . . . is perpetually bewailing the fact that wage-earners breed faster than middle-class people.

Bertrand Russell
Class, People, Facts
Bertrand Russell (2017). “Marriage and Morals”, p.69, Routledge

The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement was false.

Bertrand Russell
Newspapers, Said, Evidence
Bertrand Russell (2013). “An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth”, p.79, Routledge

Boys and girls should be taught respect for each other's liberty... and that jealousy and possessiveness kill love.

Bertrand Russell
Life, Girl, Boys
Bertrand Russell (2013). “What I Believe”, p.33, Routledge

Cruelty is, in theory, a perfectly adequate ground for divorce, but it may be interpreted so as to become absurd.

Bertrand Russell
Divorce, Adequate, May
Bertrand Russell (2009). “Marriage and Morals”, p.146, Routledge

Continuity of purpose is one of the most essential ingredients of happiness in the long run, and for most men that comes chiefly through their work.

Bertrand Russell
Running, Work, Men
Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Conquest of Happiness”, p.122, Lulu Press, Inc

The raw fruits of the earth were made for human sustenance. Even the white tails of rabbits, according to some theologians, have a purpose, namely to make it easier for sportsmen to shoot them. There are, it is true, some inconveniences: lions and tigers are too fierce, the summer is too hot, and the winter too cold. But these things only began after Adam ate the apple; I before that, all animals were vegetarians, and the season was always spring. If only Adam had been content with peaches and nectarines, grapes and pears and pineapples, these blessings would still be ours.

Bertrand Russell
Summer, Spring, Winter

Public opinion is always more tyrannical towards those who obviously fear it than towards those who feel indifferent to it.

Bertrand Russell
Happiness, Public Opinion, Indifferent
Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Conquest of Happiness”, p.75, Lulu Press, Inc

There is no excuse for deceiving children. And when, as must happen in conventional families, they find that their parents have lied, they lose confidence in them and feel justified in lying to them.

Bertrand Russell
Education, Children, Lying
Bertrand Russell (1957). “Why I Am Not a Christian: And Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects”, p.177, Simon and Schuster

There is no need to worry about mere size. We do not necessarily respect a fat man more than a thin man. Sir Isaac Newton was very much smaller than a hippopotamus, but we do not on that account value him less.

Bertrand Russell
Funny, Men, Weight Loss
Bertrand Russell (2009). “The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell”, p.370, Routledge

The luxury to disparage freedom is the privilege of those who already possess it.

Bertrand Russell
Luxury, Privilege, Free Will

The more intense has been the religion of any period and the more profound has been the dogmatic belief, the greater has been the cruelty and the worse has been the state of affairs.

Bertrand Russell
Profound, Religion, Belief
Bertrand Russell (1957). “Why I Am Not a Christian: And Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects”, p.20, Simon and Schuster

As for earthquakes, though they were still formidable, they were so interesting that men of science could hardly regret them.

Bertrand Russell
Regret, Men, Earthquakes
Bertrand Russell (2008). “History of Western Philosophy”, p.538, Simon and Schuster

As men begin to grow civilized, they cease to be satisfied with mere taboos.

Bertrand Russell
Men, Satisfied, Grows
Bertrand Russell (1987). “Bertrand Russell on ethics, sex, and marriage”

I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is mass psychology.... Its importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern methods of propaganda. Of these the most influential is what is called 'education.' Religion plays a part, though a diminishing one; the press, the cinema, and the radio play an increasing part.... It may be hoped that in time anybody will be able to persuade anybody of anything if he can catch the patient young and is provided by the State with money and equipment.

Bertrand Russell
Thinking, Play, Psychology
Bertrand Russell (2016). “The Impact of Science on Society”, p.27, Routledge

Sir Arthur Eddington deduces religion from the fact that atoms do not obey the laws of mathematics. Sir James Jeans deduces it from the fact that they do.

Bertrand Russell
Science, Law, Jeans
Bertrand Russell (2009). “The Scientific Outlook”, p.77, Routledge

Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found

Bertrand Russell
No Respect, Authority, Found
Bertrand Russell (2014). “The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell”, p.553, Routledge

Diversity is essential to happiness and in Utopia there is hardly any. This is a defect in all planned social systems.

Bertrand Russell
Diversity, Essentials, Investing
Bertrand Russell (2013). “History of Western Philosophy: Collectors Edition”, p.421, Routledge

Force plays a much larger part in the government of the world than it did before 1914, and what is especially alarming, force tends increasingly to fall into the hands of those who are enemies of civilization.

Bertrand Russell
Fall, Government, Hands
Bertrand Russell, Harry Ruja (2014). “Mortals and Others, Volume II: American Essays 1931-1935”, p.27, Routledge

Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone reading his outburst of furious indignation against this opinion will be forced to the conclusion that he enjoyed inflicting floggings.

Bertrand Russell
Mistake, Reading, School
Bertrand Russell (1996). “Unpopular Essays”, p.161, Psychology Press

Right discipline consists, not in external compulsion, but in the habits of mind which lead spontaneously to desirable rather than undesirable activities.

Bertrand Russell
Discipline, Mind, Willpower
Bertrand Russell (2014). “On Education”, p.26, Routledge

It is permissible with certain precautions to speak in print of coitus, but it is not permissible to employ the monosyllabic synonym for this word.

Bertrand Russell
Atheism, Speak, Precaution
Bertrand Russell (2009). “Bertrand Russell's Best”, p.51, Routledge

In his youth, Wordsworth sympathized with the French Revolution, went to France, wrote good poetry and had a natural daughter. At this period, he was a bad man. Then he became good, abandoned his daughter, adopted correct principles and wrote bad poetry.

Bertrand Russell
Daughter, Men, Poetry
Bertrand Russell (1960). “Sceptical Essays”

Envy is the basis of democracy.

Bertrand Russell
Envy, Democracy, Bases
Conquest of Happiness (1930) ch. 6

To write tragedy, a man must feel tragedy. To feel tragedy, a man must be aware of the world in which he lives. Not only with his mind, but with his blood and sinews.

Bertrand Russell
Writing, Men, Blood
Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Conquest of Happiness”, p.23, Lulu Press, Inc

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