Bertrand Russell Quotes - Page 41

• Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth - more than ruin, more even than death.

  Bertrand Russell

  Halloween, Men, Anxiety

  Bertrand Russell (2015). “Why Men Fight: A Method of Abolishing the International Duel”, p.95, Lulu Press, Inc

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• Science, by itself, cannot supply us with an ethic. It can show us how to achieve a given end, and it may show us that some ends cannot be achieved. But among ends that can be achieved our choice must be decided by other than purely scientific considerations. If a man were to say, "I hate the human race, and I think it would be a good thing if it were exterminated," we could say, "Well, my dear sir, let us begin the process with you." But this is hardly argument, and no amount of science could prove such a man mistaken.

  Bertrand Russell

  Hate, Mistake, Science

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• The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists - that is why they invented hell.

  Bertrand Russell

  Cynical, Religion, Atheism

  Sceptical Essays "On the Value of Scepticism" (1928)

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• When the journey from means to end is not too long, the means themselves are enjoyed if the end is ardently desired.

  Bertrand Russell

  Mean, Journey, Long

  Bertrand Russell (2009). “Authority and the Individual”, p.41, Routledge

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• For the learning of every virtue there is an appropriate discipline, and for the learning of suspended judgment the best discipline is philosophy.

  Bertrand Russell

  Philosophy, Discipline, Philosopher

  Bertrand Russell, John G. Slater, Peter Köllner (1997). “Last Philosophical Testament: 1943-68”, p.380, Psychology Press

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• The demand for certainty is one which is natural to man, but is nevertheless an intellectual vice. If you take your children for a picnic on a doubtful day, they will demand a dogmatic answer as to whether it will be fine or wet, and be disappointed in you when you cannot be sure.

  Bertrand Russell

  Nature, Children, Science

  Bertrand Russell, John G. Slater, Peter Köllner (1997). “Last Philosophical Testament: 1943-68”, p.379, Psychology Press

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• Punctuality is a quality the need of which is bound up with social co-operation. It has nothing to do with the relation of the soul to God, or with mystic insight, or with any of the matters with which the more elevated and spiritual moralists are concerned.

  Bertrand Russell

  Spiritual, Soul, Quality

  Bertrand Russell (2013). “Education and the Social Order”, p.25, Routledge

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• To save the world requires faith and courage: faith in reason, and courage to proclaim what reason shows to be true.

  Bertrand Russell

  World, Reason, Being True

  Bertrand Russell (2009). “The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell”, p.19, Routledge

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• Abstract work, if one wishes to do it well, must be allowed to destroy one's humanity; one raises a monument which is at the same time a tomb, in which, voluntarily, one slowly inters oneself.

  Bertrand Russell

  Learning, Science, Discovery

  Bertrand Russell (1998). “Autobiography”, p.168, Psychology Press

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• Science, by itself, cannot supply us with an ethic. It can show us how to achieve a given end, and it may show us that some ends cannot be achieved.

  Bertrand Russell

  Science, May, Ethics

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• If you question any candid person who is no longer young, he is very likely to tell you that, having tasted life in this world, he has no wish to begin again as a "new boy" in another.

  Bertrand Russell

  Boys, Wish, World

  Bertrand Russell (2009). “Bertrand Russell's Best”, p.32, Routledge

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• The late F. W. H. Myers used to tell how he asked a man at a dinner table what he thought would happen to him when he died. The man tried to ignore the question, but, on being pressed, replied: "Oh well, I suppose I shall inherit eternal bliss, but I wish you wouldn't talk about such unpleasant subjects."

  Bertrand Russell

  Men, Wish, Tables

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• Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion go hand in hand.

  Bertrand Russell

  Atheist, Fear, Hands

  Bertrand Russell (1993). “The Quotable Bertrand Russell”

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• This is one of those views which are so absolutely absurd that only very learned men could possibly adopt them.

  Bertrand Russell

  Men, Views, Confusion

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• Human life, its growth, its hopes, fears, loves, et cetera, are the result of accidents

  Bertrand Russell

  Humanity, Growth, Fear Of Love

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• ...impregnation will be regarded in an entirely different manner, more in the light of a surgical operation, so that it will be thought not ladylike to have it performed in the natural manner.

  Bertrand Russell

  Eugenics, Light, Different

  Bertrand Russell (2017). “The Scientific Outlook”, p.120, Routledge

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• The State is a collection of officials, different for difference purposes, drawing comfortable incomes so long as the status quo is preserved. The only alteration they are likely to desire in the status quo is an increase of bureaucracy and the power of bureaucrats.

  Bertrand Russell

  Drawing, Differences, Long

  "Sceptical Essays". Book by Bertrand Russell. Chapter 12: "Free Thought and Official Propaganda", 1928.

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• Aristotle is the last Greek philosopher who faces the world cheerfully; after him, all have, in one form or another, a philosophy of retreat.

  Bertrand Russell

  Philosophy, Greek, World

  Bertrand Russell (2013). “History of Western Philosophy: Collectors Edition”, p.195, Routledge

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• One eminently orthodox Catholic divine laid it down that a confessor may fondle a nun's breasts, provided he does it without evil intent.

  Bertrand Russell

  Evil, Catholic, May

  Bertrand Russell (2009). “Unpopular Essays”, p.80, Routledge

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• A marriage is likely to be called happy if neither party ever expected to get much happiness out of it.

  Bertrand Russell

  Marriage, Party, Expected

  Bertrand Russell (2009). “Marriage and Morals”, p.84, Routledge

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• I do not pretend that birth control is the only way in which population can be kept from increasing. There are others, which, one must suppose, opponents of birth control would prefer.

  Bertrand Russell

  Population, Birth Control, Opponents

  Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Impact of Science On Society”, p.85, Lulu Press, Inc

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• All traditional logic habitually assumes that precise symbols are being employed. It is therefore not applicable to this terrestial life but only to an imagined celestial existence... logic takes us nearer to heaven than other studies.

  Bertrand Russell

  Heaven, Logic, Study

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• The desire for legitimate offspring is, in fact, according to the Catholic Church, the only motive which can justify sexual intercourse.

  Bertrand Russell

  Catholic, Church, Desire

  Bertrand Russell (2014). “Bertrand Russell's Best”, p.43, Routledge

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• The Eugenic Society . . . is perpetually bewailing the fact that wage-earners breed faster than middle-class people.

  Bertrand Russell

  Class, People, Facts

  Bertrand Russell (2017). “Marriage and Morals”, p.69, Routledge

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• Boys and girls should be taught respect for each other's liberty... and that jealousy and possessiveness kill love.

  Bertrand Russell

  Life, Girl, Boys

  Bertrand Russell (2013). “What I Believe”, p.33, Routledge

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