In a democracy it is necessary that people should learn to endure having their sentiments outraged. Bertrand Russell More Quotes by Bertrand Russell More Quotes From Bertrand Russell The world that I should wish to see would be one freed from the virulence of group hostilities and capable of realizing that happiness for all is to be derived rather from co-operation than from strife. I should wish to see a world in which education aimed at mental freedom rather than imprisoning the minds of the young in rigid armor of dogma calculated to protect them through life against the shafts of impartial evidence. Bertrand Russell armorwishmind Respectability, regularity, and routine - the whole cast-iron discipline of a modern industrial society - have atrophied the artistic impulse, and imprisoned love so that it can no longer be generous and free and creative, but must be either stuffy or furtive. Bertrand Russell irondisciplinecreative No man is liberated from fear who dare not see his place in the world as it is; no man can achieve the greatness of which he is capable until he has allowed himself to see his own littleness. Bertrand Russell greatnessmenworld A man is rational in proportion as his intelligence informs and controls his desires. Bertrand Russell proportiondesiremen Machines have altered our way of life, but not our instincts. Consequently, there is maladjustment. Bertrand Russell instinctmachinesway Understanding human nature must be the basis of any real improvement in human life. Science has done wonders in mastering the laws of the physical world, but our own nature is much less understood, as yet, than the nature of stars and electrons. When science learns to understand human nature, it will be able to bring a happiness into our lives which machines and the physical sciences have failed to create. Bertrand Russell starsreallaw There is an element of the busybody in our conception of virtue: unless a man makes himself a nuisance to a great many people, we do not think he can be an exceptionally good man. Bertrand Russell menpeoplethinking To speak seriously: the standards of "goodness" which are generally recognized by public opinion are not those which are calculated to make the world a happier place. This is due to a variety of causes, of which the chief is tradition, and the next most powerful is the unjust power of dominant classes. Bertrand Russell powerfulclassworld Human nature being what it is, people will insist upon getting some pleasure out of life. Bertrand Russell human-naturepleasurepeople Moral indignation is one of the most harmful forces in the modern world, the more so as it can always be diverted to sinister uses by those who control propaganda. Bertrand Russell moraluseworld It is a natural propensity to attribute misfortune to someone's malignity. Bertrand Russell propensityattributesnatural We do not like to be robbed of an enemy; we want someone to hate when we suffer. It is so depressing to think that we suffer because we are fools; yet, taking mankind in the mass, that is the truth. Bertrand Russell depressinghatethinking The root of the matter is a very simple and old fashioned thing... love or compassion. If you feel this, you have a motive for existence, a guide for action, a reason for courage, an imperative necessity for intellectual honesty. Bertrand Russell honestysimplelove Stupidity and unconscious bias often work more damage than venality. Bertrand Russell biasdamagestupidity None of our beliefs are quite true; all have at least a penumbra of vagueness and error. Bertrand Russell vaguenesserrorsbelief So in everything: power lies with those who control finance, not with those who know the matter upon which the money is to be spent. Thus, the holders of power are, in general, ignorant and malevolent, and the less they exercise their power the better. Bertrand Russell ignorantexerciselying My own belief is that in most ages and in most places obscure psychological forces led men to adopt systems involving quite unnecessary cruelty, and that this is still the case among the most civilized races at the present day. Bertrand Russell raceagemen Love can only flourish as long as it is free and spontaneous; it tends to be killed by the thought that it is a duty. To say that it is your duty to love so-and-so is the surest way to cause you to hate him or her. Bertrand Russell hatelongway Science can teach us, and I think our hearts can teach us, no longer to look around for imaginary supporters, no longer to invent allies in the sky, but rather to look to our own efforts here below to make the world a fit place to live. Bertrand Russell skyheartthinking The first effect of emancipation from the Church was not to make men think rationally, but to open their minds to every sort of antique nonsense Bertrand Russell mindmenthinking
