Mathematics is, I believe, the chief source of the belief in eternal and exact truth, as well as a sensible intelligible world. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
More and more people are becoming unable to accept traditional [religious] beliefs. If they think that, apart from these beliefs, there is… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The reformative effect of punishment is a belief that dies hard, chiefly I think, because it is so satisfying to our sadistic… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Emphatic and reiterated assertion, especially during childhood, produces in most people a belief so firm as to have a hold even over… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
A fanatical belief in democracy makes democratic institutions impossible. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Diet, injections, and injunctions will combine, from a very early age, to produce the sort of character and the sort of beliefs… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
A widespread belief is more often likely to be foolish than sensible. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
What makes a free thinker is not his beliefs, but the way in which he holds them. If he holds them because… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I think that there is far too much work done in the world, that immense harm is caused by the belief that… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The opposition of instinct and reason is mainly illusory. Instinct, intuition, or insight is what first leads to the beliefs which subsequent… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that… — 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
“William James used to preach the 'will to believe.' For my part, I should wish to preach the 'will to doubt' ...… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I have come to realize that an early symptom of approaching mental illness is the belief that one's work is terribly important.… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
One of the main causes of trouble in the world is dogmatic and fanatical belief in some doctrine for which there is… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
William James used to preach the "will-to-believe." For my part, I should wish to preach the "will-to-doubt." None of our beliefs are… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Americans and Englishmen, when they become acquainted with the Balkans, feel an astonished contempt when they study the mutual enmities of Bulgarians… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The fact that a belief has a good moral effect upon a man is no evidence whatsoever in favor of its truth.… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
But if thought is to become the possession of many, not the privilege of the few, we must have done with fear.… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
[Man] ... his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs are but the outcome of accidental collocations… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I mean by intellectual integrity the habit of deciding vexed questions in accordance with the evidence, or of leaving them undecided where… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I am myself a dissenter from all known religions, and I hope that every kind of religious belief will die out. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
“My desire and wish is that the things I start with should be so obvious that you wonder why I spend my… — 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 Image
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 Image
Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.' — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
“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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image