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Bertrand Russell Quotes - Page 9

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Drunkeness is temporary suicide: the happiness that it brings is merely negative, a momentary cessation of unhappiness.

Drunkeness is temporary suicide: the happiness that it brings is merely negative, a momentary cessation of unhappiness.

Bertrand Russell
Suicide, Suicidal, Alcohol
Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Conquest of Happiness”, p.11, Lulu Press, Inc

The Christian view that all intercourse outside marriage is immoral was, as we see in the above passages from St. Paul, based upon the view that all sexual intercourse, even within marriage, is regrettable. A view of this sort, which goes against biological facts, can only be regarded by sane people as a morbid aberration. The fact that it is embedded in Christian ethics has made Christianity throughout its whole history a force tending towards mental disorders and unwholesome views of life.

Bertrand Russell
Christian, Fear, Views

Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable.

Bertrand Russell
Inspirational, Learning, Shining
Bertrand Russell (2009). “Fact and Fiction”, p.153, Routledge

It is not my prayer and humility that you cause things to go as you wish, but by acquiring a knowledge of natural laws.

Bertrand Russell
Prayer, Humility, Law
Bertrand Russell (1967). “The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell”

I don't care for the applause one gets by saying what others are thinking; I want actually to change people's thoughts. Power over people's minds is the main personal desire of my life; and this sort of power is not acquired by saying popular things.

Bertrand Russell
Thinking, People, Mind
Bertrand Russell (2014). “The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell”, p.285, Routledge

Science may set limits to knowledge, but should not set limits to imagination.

Bertrand Russell
Knowledge, Science, Imagination
Bertrand Russell (2008). “History of Western Philosophy”, p.16, Simon and Schuster

For my part, the thing I would wish to obtain from money would be leisure with security. But what the typical modern man desires to get with it is more money, with a view to ostentation, splendour, and the outshining of those who have hitherto been his equals.

Bertrand Russell
Men, Views, Wish
Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Conquest of Happiness”, p.26, Lulu Press, Inc

And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence

Bertrand Russell
Death, God, Spiritual
Bertrand Russell, John G. Slater, Peter Köllner (1997). “Last Philosophical Testament: 1943-68”, p.554, Psychology Press

Conventional people are roused to fury by departure from convention, largely because they regard such departure as a criticism of themselves.

Bertrand Russell
Atheist, People, Criticism
Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Conquest of Happiness”, p.76, Lulu Press, Inc

Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.

Bertrand Russell
Love, Happiness, Marriage
Conquest of Happiness (1930) ch. 12

And all this madness, all this rage, all this flaming death of our civilization and our hopes, has been brought about because a set of official gentlemen, living luxurious lives, mostly stupid, and all without imagination or heart, have chosen that it should occur rather than that any one of them should suffer some infinitesimal rebuff to his country`s pride.

Bertrand Russell
Country, War, Stupid
Bertrand Russell, Ray Perkins (Jr.) (2002). “Yours Faithfully, Bertrand Russell: A Lifelong Fight for Peace, Justice, and Truth in Letters to the Editor”, p.35, Open Court Publishing

The human race may well become extinct before the end of the century. Speaking as a mathematician, I should say the odds are about three to one against survival.

Bertrand Russell
Race, Odds, Survival
Interview in "Playboy", 10, No. 3, 42, (March 1963) in "One Nation Underground: The Fallout Shelter in American Culture" by Kenneth Rose, (p. 39), 2004.

It is possible that mankind is on the threshold of a golden age; but, if so, it will be necessary first to slay the dragon that guards the door, and this dragon is religion.

Bertrand Russell
Birthday, Doors, Dragons
Bertrand Russell (1957). “Why I Am Not a Christian: And Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects”, p.47, Simon and Schuster

One of the main causes of trouble in the world is dogmatic and fanatical belief in some doctrine for which there is no adequate evidence

Bertrand Russell
Doctrine, World, Adequate
Bertrand Russell, Andrew G. Bone (2003). “Man's Peril, 1954-55”, p.133, Psychology Press

There are infinite possibilities of error, and more cranks take up fashionable untruths than unfashionable truths.

Bertrand Russell
Truth, Science, Errors

Life and hope for the world are to be found only in the deeds of love.

Bertrand Russell
Life, Hope, World
Bertrand Russell (2006). “Political Ideals”, p.90, Cosimo, Inc.

The very best proof that something can be done is that someone has already done it.

Bertrand Russell
Done, Proof

I feel life is so small unless it has windows into other worlds.

Bertrand Russell
Other Worlds, Life Is, Window
Bertrand Russell (1992). “The Selected Letters of Bertrand Russell: The private years, 1884-1914”, Allen Lane

One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision.

Bertrand Russell
Stupid, Ignorance, Imagination
Bertrand Russell (2009). “The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell”, p.676, Routledge

dont let the old break you; let the love make you

Bertrand Russell
Break

Science tells us what we can know but what we can know is little and if we forget how much we cannot know we become insensitive of many things of very great importance. Theology, on the other hand induces a dogmatic belief that we have knowledge where in fact we have ignorance and by doing so generates a kind of impertinent insolence towards the universe. Uncertainty in the presence of vivid hopes and fears is painful, but must be endured if we wish to live without the support of comforting fairy tales.

Bertrand Russell
Ignorance, Hands, Support
Bertrand Russell (2013). “History of Western Philosophy: Collectors Edition”, p.2, Routledge

What we cannot think we cannot think, therefore we also cannot say what we cannot think.

Bertrand Russell
Thinking
Bertrand Russell, John Greer Slater, Bernd Frohmann (1988). “Essays on language, mind, and matter, 1919-26”, Allen & Unwin Australia

Whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants.

Bertrand Russell
Differences, Finding Yourself, Examination
Bertrand Russell (2009). “Unpopular Essays”, p.99, Routledge

The teacher, like the artist, the philosopher, and the man of letters, can only perform his work adequately if he feels himself to be an individual directed by an inner creative impulse, not dominated and fettered by an outside authority.

Bertrand Russell
Teacher, Artist, Creative
"The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell".

What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite.

Bertrand Russell
Believe, Science, Opposites
"Sceptical Essays". Book by Bertrand Russell, Ch. 12: Free Thought and Official Propaganda, 1928.

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