What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. Bertrand Russell More Quotes by Bertrand Russell More Quotes From Bertrand Russell Do not feel certain of anything. Bertrand Russell certain feels Literature is inexhaustible, with every book a homage to infinity Bertrand Russell infinity literature book There is an artist imprisoned in each one of us. Let him loose to spread joy everywhere. Bertrand Russell spread artist joy The resistance to a new idea increases by the square of its importance. Bertrand Russell resistance squares ideas The man who only loves beautiful things is dreaming, whereas the man who knows absolute beauty is wide awake. Bertrand Russell dream love-is beautiful To save the world requires faith and courage: faith in reason, and courage to proclaim what reason shows to be true. Bertrand Russell being-true reason world Every housemaid expects at least once a week as much excitement as would have lasted a Jane Austen heroine throughout a whole novel. Bertrand Russell excitement heroines week In all the creative work that I have done, what has come first is a problem, a puzzle involving discomfort. Bertrand Russell creative done firsts Frege has the merit of ... finding a third assertion by recognising the world of logic which is neither mental nor physical. Bertrand Russell merit science world The main thing needed to make men happy is intelligence. Bertrand Russell needed happiness men Education ought to foster the wish for truth, not the conviction that some particular creed is the truth. Bertrand Russell politics truth wish I did not, however, commit suicide, because I wished to know more of mathematics. Bertrand Russell commit suicide math Even in the most purely logical realms, it is insight that first arrives at what is new. Bertrand Russell logical inspiration firsts Philosophy arises from an unusually obstinate attempt to arrive at real knowledge. What passes for knowledge in ordinary life suffers from three defects: it is cocksure, vague and self-contradictory. The first step towards philosophy consists in becoming aware of these defects, not in order to rest content with a lazy scepticism, but in order to substitute an amended kind of knowledge which shall be tentative, precise and self-consistent. Bertrand Russell real self philosophy The reformative effect of punishment is a belief that dies hard, chiefly I think, because it is so satisfying to our sadistic impulses. Bertrand Russell punishment belief thinking Something of the hermit's temper is an essential element in many forms of excellence, since it enables men to resist the lure of popularity, to pursue important work in spite of general indifference or hostility, and arrive at opinions which are opposed to prevalent errors. Bertrand Russell errors solitude men It is the things for which there is no evidence that are believed with passion. Bertrand Russell evidence passion religion I am paid by the word, so I always write the shortest words possible. Bertrand Russell paid writing The true spirit of delight...is to be found in mathematics as surely as in poetry. Bertrand Russell delight mathematics spirit For a good notation has a subtlety and suggestiveness which at times make it seem almost like a live teacher. Bertrand Russell subtlety math teacher
