When a man tells you that he knows the exact truth about anything you are safe in inferring that he is an inexact man. Bertrand Russell More Quotes by Bertrand Russell More Quotes From Bertrand Russell The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history. Bertrand Russell powerful love men My whole religion is this: do every duty, and expect no reward for it, either here or hereafter. Bertrand Russell rewards duty religion If you think your belief is based upon reason, you will support it by argument rather than by persecution, and will abandon it if the argument goes against you. But if your belief is based upon faith, you will realize that argument is useless, and will therefore resort to force either in the form of persecution or by stunting or distorting the minds of the young in what is called 'education.' Bertrand Russell intelligence support thinking Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter. Bertrand Russell pleasure intelligent agreement Not to be absolutely certain is, I think, one of the essential things in rationality. Bertrand Russell doubt-and-certainty essentials thinking The more things a man is interested in, the more opportunities of happiness he has and the less he is at the mercy of fate, since if he loses one thing he can fall back upon another. Bertrand Russell fate opportunity fall To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Bertrand Russell wisdom success inspirational Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. Bertrand Russell strong fear life Perhaps the best hope for the future of mankind is that ways will be found of increasing the scope and intensity of sympathy. Bertrand Russell intensity found way To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness. Bertrand Russell motivational happiness inspirational War doesn't determine who's right, it determines who's left Bertrand Russell left determine war We are told that Sin consists in acting contrary to God's commands, but we are also told that God is omnipotent. If He is, nothing contrary to His will can occur; therefore when the sinner disobeys His commands, He must have intended this to happen. Bertrand Russell humorous god funny It is likely that America will be more important during the next century or two, but after that it may well be the turn of China. Bertrand Russell important two america Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that is happiness. Bertrand Russell paradise fool thinking Men who allow their love of power to give them a distorted view of the world are to be found in every asylum: one man will think he is the Governor of the Bank of England, another will think he is the King, and yet another will think he is God. Highly similar delusions, if expressed by educated men in obscure language, lead to professorships of philosophy; and if expressed by emotional men in eloquent language, lead to dictatorships. Bertrand Russell kings men philosophy Most human beings, though in varying degrees, desire to control, not only their own lives but also the lives of others Bertrand Russell lives-of-others degrees desire The knowledge exists by which universal happiness can be secured; the chief obstacle to its utilization for that purpose is the teaching of religion. Religion prevents our children from having a rational education; religion prevents us from removing the fundamental causes of war; religion prevents us from teaching the ethic of scientific cooperation in place of the old fierce doctrines of sin and punishment. It is possible that mankind is on the threshold of a golden age; but, if so, it will be necessary first to slay the dragon that guards the door, and this dragon is religion. Bertrand Russell teaching war children The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holders lack of rational conviction. Opinions in politics and religion are almost always held passionately. Bertrand Russell critical-thinking passion opinion Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence, it will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines. Bertrand Russell infancy-is fear science One of the most powerful of all our passions is the desire to be admired and respected. Bertrand Russell passion powerful desire
