Being Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS (1872–1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic, political activist and Nobel laureate.  At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had “never been any of these things, in any profound sense”.  He was born in Monmouthshire into one of the most prominent aristocratic families in the United Kingdom.—Wikipedia

Most people would rather die than think—in fact, they do so. 

The ABC of relativity

If there were a God, I think it very unlikely that he would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt his existence.

Bertrand Russell’s best

The fundamental defect of fathers, in our competitive society, is that they want their children to be a credit to them.

Sceptical essays (1928), ch 14

I wish to propose for the reader’s favourable consideration a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true.

Sceptical essays (1928), ch 1

Every man, wherever he goes, is encompassed by a cloud of comforting convictions, which move with him like flies on a summer day.

Sceptical essays (1928), ch 2

To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.

The conquest of happiness (1930)

Men are born ignorant, not stupid;   they are made stupid by education.

A history of Western philosophy        

We love those who hate our enemies, and if we had no enemies there would be very few people whom we should love.

What desires are politically important?

Anyone who has much to do with children knows how they are constantly performing some antic, and saying ‘Look at me’. 

‘Look at me’ is one of the most fundamental desires of the human heart.

What desires are politically important?

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd;  indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.         

Marriage and morals (1929)

The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.

In praise of idleness  (1935)

Man is a rational animal—so at least I have been told. Throughout a long life, I have looked diligently for evidence in favour of this statement, but so far I have not had the good fortune to come across it, though I have searched in many countries spread over three continents.

Unpopular essays (1950)

What is new in our time is the increased power of the authorities to enforce their prejudices.

said in Who said that?, BBC tv (1958)

selection © 2016 Jeremy Marchant . uploaded 1 july 2016 .