Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS (1872–1970) was a British nobleman, philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. 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 in any profound sense. He was born in Monmouthshire, into one of the most prominent aristocratic families in Britain.
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Intelligence is not to make any mistakes,
but quickly to see how to make them good.
—Bertrand A. Russell
When a man tells you that he knows the exact truth about anything you are safe in inferring that he is an inexact man.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Truth
One of the most interesting and harmful delusions to which men and nations can be subjected is that of imagining themselves special instruments of the Divine Will.
—Bertrand A. Russell
The trouble with the world is that
the stupid are cocksure and
the intelligent are full of doubt.
—Bertrand A. Russell
The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy; I mean that if you are happy you will be good.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Unless a man has been taught what to do with success after getting it, the achievement of it must inevitably leave him a prey to boredom.
—Bertrand A. Russell
We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side; one which we preach but do not practice and another which we practice but seldom preach.
—Bertrand A. Russell
It is a waste of energy to be angry with a man who behaves badly,
just as it is to be angry with a car that won’t go.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so.
—Bertrand A. Russell
So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Intelligence
Continuity of purpose is one of the most essential ingredients of happiness in the long run, and for most men this comes chiefly through their work.
—Bertrand A. Russell
A sense of duty is useful in work, but offensive in personal relations. People wish to be liked, not endured with patient resignation.
—Bertrand A. Russell
There should be no enforced respect for grown-ups. We cannot prevent children from thinking us fools by merely forbidding them to utter their thoughts; in fact, they are more likely to think ill of us if they dare not say so.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Children
Contempt for happiness is usually contempt for other people’s happiness, and is an elegant disguise for hatred of the human race.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Self-respect will keep a man from being abject when he is in the power of enemies, and will enable him to feel that he may be in the right when the world is against him.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Assurance, Confidence
Science is what you know, philosophy what you don’t know.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Science
A truer image of the world, I think, is obtained by picturing things as entering into the stream of time from an eternal world outside, than from a view which regards time as the devouring tyrant of all that is.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Time Management, Time
The essence of the liberal outlook is a belief that men should be free to question anything if they can support their questioning by solid arguments.
—Bertrand A. Russell
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous
breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.
—Bertrand A. Russell
To be able to concentrate for a considerable time is essential to difficult achievement.
—Bertrand A. Russell
A great many worries can be diminished by realizing the unimportance of the matter which is causing anxiety.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Managing Worries, Worry
The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Belief
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.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Man needs for his happiness not only the enjoyment of this or that but hope and enterprise and change.
—Bertrand A. Russell
To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
—Bertrand A. Russell
The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
—Bertrand A. Russell
Topics: Love, One liners
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