The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists - that is why they invented hell. Bertrand Russell More Quotes by Bertrand Russell More Quotes From Bertrand Russell I am as firmly convinced that religions do harm as I am that they are untrue. Bertrand Russell atheismatheistreligion The law of causality, I believe, like much that passes muster among philosophers, is a relic of a bygone age, surviving, like the monarchy, only because it is erroneously supposed to do no harm. Bertrand Russell agelawbelieve 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 Russell essencemaylying The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions to the things and persons that interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile. Bertrand Russell inner-peacehappinessinspirational All's well that ends well; which is the epitaph I should put on my tombstone if I were the last man left alive. Bertrand Russell alivetombstonemen Very many people spend money in ways quite different from those that their natural tastes would enjoin, merely because the respect of their neighbors depends upon their possession of a good car and their ability to give good dinners. As a matter of fact, any man who can obviously afford a car but genuinely prefers travels or a good library will in the end be much more respected than if he behaved exactly like everyone else. Bertrand Russell givingmenpeople The most essential characteristic of scientific technique is that it proceeds from experiment, not from tradition. The experimental habit of mind is a difficult one for most people to maintain; indeed, the science of one generation has already become the tradition of the next Bertrand Russell nextmindpeople This, however, is a passing nightmare; in time the earth will become again incapable of supporting life, and peace will return. Bertrand Russell returnearthreligion Continuity of purpose is one of the most essential ingredients of happiness in the long run, and for most men that comes chiefly through their work. Bertrand Russell workrunningmen To a mind of sufficient intellectual power, the whole of mathematics would appear trivial, as trivial as the statement that a four-footed animal is an animal. Bertrand Russell intellectualmindanimal My conclusion is that there is no reason to believe any of the dogmas of traditional theology and, further, that there is no reason to wish that they were true. Man, in so far as he is not subject to natural forces, is free to work out his own destiny. The responsibility is his, and so is the opportunity. Bertrand Russell responsibilityopportunitybelieve The whiter my hair becomes, the more ready people are to believe what I say. Bertrand Russell hairbelievepeople I am firm; YOU are obstinate; HE is a pig-headed fool. Bertrand Russell foolstupidpigs If you wish to be happy yourself, you must resign yourself to seeing others also happy. Bertrand Russell seeingifswish Among human beings, the subjection of women is much more complete at a certain level of civilization than it is among savages. And the subjection is always reinforced by morality. Bertrand Russell savageslevelscivilization All movements go too far. Bertrand Russell movementchangebelief I was told that The Chinese said they would bury me by the Western Lake and build a shrine to my memory. I have some slight regret that this did not happen, as I might have become a god, which would have been very chic for an atheist. Bertrand Russell regretatheistmemories Religion may in most of its forms be defined as the belief that the gods are on the side of the government. Bertrand Russell governmentsidesmay The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement was false. Bertrand Russell evidencenewspaperssaid Historically, it is quite doubtful whether Christ ever existed at all, and if He did we do not know anything about Him. Bertrand Russell atheismreligionchrist
