Belief systems provide a programme which relieves the necessity of thought. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
One's work is never so bad as it appears on bad days, nor so good as it appears on good days. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
More cranks take up unfashionable errors than unfashionable truths. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The average man's opinions are much less foolish than they would be if he thought for himself. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
In our complex world, there cannot be fruitful initiative without government, but unfortunately there can be government without initiative. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
A marriage is likely to be called happy if neither party ever expected to get much happiness out of it. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also admit that some things are much more nearly certain than… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Every living thing is a sort of imperialist, seeking to transform as much as possible of its environment into itself. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Mankind has become so much one family that we cannot insure our own prosperity except by insuring that of everyone else. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth.… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
“To all the talented young men who wander about feeling that there is nothing in the world for them to do, I… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
“Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I do not believe that I am now dreaming, but I cannot prove that I am not. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Common sense, however it tries, cannot avoid being surprised from time to time. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I am paid by the word, so I always write the shortest words possible. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
You are a wicked motorcar, and I shall not give you any more petrol until you go. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Really high-minded people are indifferent to happiness, especially other people's. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. — 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
