A smile happens in a flash, but its memory can last a lifetime. Bertrand Russell More Quotes by Bertrand Russell More Quotes From Bertrand Russell Aristotle is the last Greek philosopher who faces the world cheerfully; after him, all have, in one form or another, a philosophy of retreat. Bertrand Russell greek philosophy world The true function of logic ... as applied to matters of experience ... is analytic rather than constructive; taken a priori, it shows the possibility of hitherto unsuspected alternatives more often than the impossibility of alternatives which seemed prima facie possible. Thus, while it liberates imagination as to what the world may be, it refuses to legislate as to what the world is Bertrand Russell alternatives taken imagination You may reasonably expect a man to walk a tightrope safely for ten minutes; it would be unreasonable to do so without accident for two hundred years. Bertrand Russell men science years Cruelty is, in theory, a perfectly adequate ground for divorce, but it may be interpreted so as to become absurd. Bertrand Russell adequate divorce may If two hitherto rival football teams, under the influence of brotherly love, decided to co-operate in placing the football first beyond one goal and then beyond the other, no one's happiness would be increased Bertrand Russell team football two After ages during which the earth produced harmless trilobites and butterflies, evolution progressed to the point at which it generated Neros, Genghis Khans, and Hitlers. This, however, is a passing nightmare; in time the earth will become again incapable of supporting life, and peace will return. Bertrand Russell nero butterfly age All traditional logic habitually assumes that precise symbols are being employed. It is therefore not applicable to this terrestial life but only to an imagined celestial existence... logic takes us nearer to heaven than other studies. Bertrand Russell logic study heaven I went to Salt Lake City and the Mormons tried to convert me, but when I found they forbade tea and tobacco I thought it was no religion for me. Bertrand Russell cities lakes tea 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 The late F. W. H. Myers used to tell how he asked a man at a dinner table what he thought would happen to him when he died. The man tried to ignore the question, but, on being pressed, replied: "Oh well, I suppose I shall inherit eternal bliss, but I wish you wouldn't talk about such unpleasant subjects." Bertrand Russell tables wish men It's easy to fall in love. The hard part is finding someone to catch you. Bertrand Russell famous-love falling-in-love new-relationship This illustrates an important truth, namely, that the worse your logic, the more interesting the consequences to which it gives rise. Bertrand Russell important giving interesting Belief in a Divine mission is one of the many forms of certainty that have afflicted the human race. Bertrand Russell divine race belief One eminently orthodox Catholic divine laid it down that a confessor may fondle a nun's breasts, provided he does it without evil intent. Bertrand Russell catholic evil may The Eugenic Society . . . is perpetually bewailing the fact that wage-earners breed faster than middle-class people. Bertrand Russell class facts people 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 learning shining inspirational Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths. Bertrand Russell wife math men The difficulty is old, but none the less real. An omnipotent being who created a world containing evil not due to sin must Himself be at least partially evil. Bertrand Russell real god evil The mind is a strange machine which can combine the materials offered to it in the most astonishing ways. Bertrand Russell machines mind way Televison allows thousands of people to laugh at the same joke and still remain alone. Bertrand Russell internet laughing people
