Whether science-and indeed civilization in general-can long survive depends upon psychology, that is to say, it depends upon what human beings desire. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
In action, in desire, we must submit perpetually to the tyranny of outside forces; but in thought, in aspiration, we are free,… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The desire to understand the world and the desire to reform it are the two great engines of progress, without which human… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Envy, in fact, is one form of a vice, partly moral, partly intellectual, which consists in seeing things never in themselves, but… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Love is something far more than desire for sexual intercourse; it is the principal means of escape from the loneliness which afflicts… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The desire for legitimate offspring is, in fact, according to the Catholic Church, the only motive which can justify sexual intercourse. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Without effort and change, human life cannot remain good. It is not a finished Utopia that we ought to desire, but a… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
To abandon the struggle for private happiness, to expel all eagerness of temporary desire, to burn with passion for eternal things-this is… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Nothing of importance is ever achieved without discipline. I feel myself sometimes not wholly in sympathy with some modern educational theorists, because… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The scientific attitude of mind involves a sweeping away of all other desires in the interests of the desire to know-it involves… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
These illustrations suggest four general maxims[...]. The first is: remember that your motives are not always as altruistic as they seem to… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.' — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.” — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share
There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share