Bertrand Russel
Bertrand Russel
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRSwas a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic, political activist and Nobel laureate. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had "never been any of these things, in any profound sense". He was born in Monmouthshire into one of the most prominent aristocratic families in the United Kingdom...
conceived found god highest reality
God is a reality of spirit... He cannot... be conceived as an object, not even as the very highest object. God is not to be found in the world of objects.
dissolve effect given magic power suppose
If we were all given by magic power to read each other's thoughts, I suppose the first effect would be to dissolve all friendships
certainty men
What men want is not knowledge, but certainty.
available delights dictators ecstasy enjoy madmen since solitary
If we could all live solitary and without labor, we could all enjoy this ecstasy of independence; since we cannot, its delights are only available to madmen and dictators
anxious benefit easier enemies good great hate hatred injure intense large love men opponents
Hatred of enemies is easier and more intense than love of friends. But from men who are more anxious to injure opponents than to benefit the world at large no great good is to be expected.
believer best democratic firm form government required tolerance
I am a firm believer in democratic representative government as the best form for those who have the tolerance and self-restraint that is required to make it workable
causes desire events food great main political
Undoubtedly the desire for food has been, and still is, one of the main causes of great political events
add certain certainty nearly others
When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also add that some things are more nearly certain than others
became evolution man since taken
Since evolution became fashionable, the glorification of Man has taken a new form.
die people rather
Most people would rather die than think: many do.
chief earth fear glory great hell light looks men merciless pit ruin subversive swift
Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth more than ruin more even than death. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.
earth fear men merciless ruin subversive
Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit.
aims anguish children compel men mothers opponents ordinary political pursuit quite submit
Men, quite ordinary men, will compel children to look on while their mothers are raped. In pursuit of political aims men will submit their opponents to long years of unspeakable anguish
belief feeble human man power pride submission whom worship
Man is a feeble creature, to whom only submission and worship are besoming. Pride is insolence, and belief in human power is impiety