Bertrand RussellLife and hope for the world are to be found only in the deeds of love. ✨ Bertrand Russell (2006). Political Ideals, p.90, Cosimo, Inc.371HopeLifeLove
Bertrand RussellThe 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 consciou… ▶361Time
Bertrand RussellThe point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it. ✨ Bertrand R… ▶372Philosophy
Bertrand RussellPassive acceptance of the teacher's wisdom is easy to most boys and girls. It involves no effort of independent thought, and seems rational because the teacher knows more than his… ▶361LifePhilosophyThought
Bertrand RussellThese illustrations suggest four general maxims[...]. The first is: remember that your motives are not always as altruistic as they seem to yourself. The second is: don't over-est… ▶361HumanityThought
Bertrand RussellOf course not. After all, I may be wrong. ✨ Attributed in The Times book of quotations by Philip Howard, (p. 84), 2000.361ReadingTime
Bertrand RussellThe man who is unhappy will, as a rule, adopt an unhappy creed, while the man who is happy will adopt a happy creed; each may attribute his happiness or unhappiness to his beliefs… ▶351Life
Bertrand RussellThe man who pursues happiness wisely will aim at the possession of a number of subsidiary interests in addition to those central ones upon which his life is built. ✨ Bertran… ▶362Life
Bertrand RussellStupidity and unconscious bias often work more damage than venality. ✨ Bertrand Russell (2004). Sceptical Essays, p.121, Psychology Press351Love
Bertrand RussellA man is rational in proportion as his intelligence informs and controls his desires. ✨ Bertrand Russell (2004). Sceptical Essays, p.39, Psychology Press351Politics
Bertrand RussellThree 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. ✨ … ▶351HumanityLifeLove
Bertrand RussellI once saw a photograph of a large herd of wild elephants in Central Africa Seeing an airplane for the first time, and all in a state of wild collective terror... As, however, the… ▶362DeathPoliticsTime
Bertrand RussellAre you never afraid of God's judgement in denying him? Most certainly not. I also deny Zeus and Jupiter and Odin and Brahma, but this causes me no qualms. I observe that a very l… ▶362HumanityLifeThought
Bertrand RussellHow much longer is the world willing to endure this spectacle of wanton cruelty? ✨ Bertrand Russell, Ray Perkins (Jr.) (2002). Yours Faithfully, Bertrand Russell: A Lifelong… ▶352HopeLifeTruth
Bertrand RussellScientific method, although in its more refined forms it may seem complicated, is in essence remarkably simply. It consists in observing such facts as will enable the observer to … ▶341PoliticsTruth
Bertrand RussellRemote from human passions, remote even from the pitiful facts of nature, the generations have gradually created an ordered cosmos [mathematics], where pure thought can dwell in i… ▶341HumanityLoveThought
Bertrand RussellNo; we have been as usual asking the wrong question. It does not matter a hoot what the mockingbird on the chimney is singing. The real and proper question is: Why is it beautiful?374Truth
Bertrand RussellThe theoretical understanding of the world, which is the aim of philosophy, is not a matter of great practical importance to animals, or to savages, or even to most civilised men.… ▶374Philosophy
Bertrand RussellThe discipline in your life should be one determined by your own desires and your own needs, not put upon you by society or authority. ✨ Bertrand Russell (1987). Bertrand Ru… ▶341HumanityLife
Bertrand RussellHappiness, as is evident, depends partly upon external circumstances and partly upon oneself. ✨ Bertrand Russell (2013). The Conquest of Happiness, p.89, W. W. Norton & Comp… ▶374Thought
Bertrand RussellThose who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give. ✨ Bertrand Russell (2009). … ▶341LifeLove
Bertrand RussellTruth is for the gods; from our human point of view, it is an ideal, towards which we can approximate, but which we cannot hope to reach. ✨ Bertrand Russell (1993). The Quot… ▶352HopeHumanityThought
Bertrand RussellFreedom in education has many aspects. There is first of all freedom to learn or not to learn. Then there is freedom as to what to learn. And in later education there is freedom o… ▶341Humor
Bertrand RussellMathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, witho… ▶352SadnessTruth
Bertrand RussellWhy repeat the old errors, if there are so many new errors to commit?363Sadness
Bertrand RussellI did not know I loved you until I heard myself telling so, for one instance I thought, Good God, what have I said? and then I knew it was true.363LoveThoughtTruth
Bertrand RussellAt the age of eleven, I began Euclid, with my brother as my tutor. This was one of the great events of my life, as dazzling as first love. I had not imagined there was anything so… ▶331LifeLoveTime
Bertrand RussellThe luxury to disparage freedom is the privilege of those who already possess it.331Reading
Bertrand RussellEven in the most purely logical realms, it is insight that first arrives at what is new. ✨ Bertrand Russell (2016). Mysticism and Logic, p.22, Bertrand Russell342Reflection
Bertrand RussellI believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I am not young, and I love life. But I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation… ▶353DeathLifeLove