The best life is the one in which the creative impulses play the largest part and the possessive impulses the smallest. Bertrand Russell More Quotes by Bertrand Russell More Quotes From Bertrand Russell It is no credit to the orthodox that they do not now believe all the absurdities that were believed 150 years ago. The gradual emasculation of the Christian doctrine has been effected in spite of the most vigorous resistance, and solely as the result of the onslaughts of freethinkers. Bertrand Russell christian believe years What we cannot think we cannot think, therefore we also cannot say what we cannot think. Bertrand Russell thinking Fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves. Bertrand Russell foolish-man thought-provoking wisest-man The world in which we live can be understood as a result of muddle and accident; but if it is the outcome of deliberate purpose, the purpose must have been that of a fiend. For my part, I find accident a less painful and more plausible hypothesis. Bertrand Russell purpose world religion Those who forget good and evil and seek only to know the facts are more likely to achieve good than those who view the world through the distorting medium of their own desires. Bertrand Russell achievement views evil dont let the old break you; let the love make you Bertrand Russell break Memory demands an image. Bertrand Russell demand memories Philosophy, for Plato, is a kind of vision, the 'vision of truth'...Everyone who has done any kind of creative work has experienced, in a greater or less degree, the state of mind in which, after long labour, truth or beauty appears, or seems to appear, in a sudden glory - it may only be about some small matter, or it may be about the universe. I think that most of the best creative work, in art, in science, in literature, and in philosophy, has been a result of just such a moment. Bertrand Russell plato philosophy art It is permissible with certain precautions to speak in print of coitus, but it is not permissible to employ the monosyllabic synonym for this word. Bertrand Russell precaution atheism speak Suppose atomic bombs had reduced the population of the world to one brother and sister; should they let the human race die out? Bertrand Russell population brother race The Mormons had a divine revelation in favour of polygamy, but under pressure from the United States Government they discovered that the revelation was not binding. Bertrand Russell divine-revelation united-states government Freedom comes only to those who no longer ask of life that it shall yield them any of those personal goods that are subject to the mutations of time. Bertrand Russell mutation materialism yield 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 survival odds race 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 humility prayer law There is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action. Bertrand Russell knowledge-and-power majority government I consider the official Catholic attitude on divorce, birth control, and censorship exceedingly dangerous to mankind. Bertrand Russell divorce catholic attitude Morality in sexual relations, when it is free from superstition, consists essentially in respect for the other person, and unwillingness to use that person solely as a means of personal gratification, without regard to his or her desires. Bertrand Russell use desire mean I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. Bertrand Russell i-believe ego believe Politics is largely governed by sententious platitudes which are devoid of truth Bertrand Russell platitudes 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 armor wish mind
