Opinion Quotes by Bertrand Russell

Neither the Church nor modern public opinion condemns petting, provided it stops short at a certain point.

— Bertrand Russell

The average man's opinions are much less foolish than they would be if he thought for himself.

— Bertrand Russell

The sentiments of an adult are compounded of a kernal of instinct surrounded by a vast husk of education.

— Bertrand Russell

I am not myself in any degree ashamed of having changed my opinions.

— Bertrand Russell

Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself secure.

— Bertrand Russell

Opinions which justify cruelty are inspired by cruel impulses.

— Bertrand Russell

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd.

— Bertrand Russell

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

— Bertrand Russell

I can only say that, while my own opinions as to ethics do not satisfy me, other people's satisfy me still less.

— Bertrand Russell

It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions makes it impossible to earn a living.

— Bertrand Russell

Whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that…

— Bertrand Russell

Who ever heard a theologian preface his creed, or a politician conclude his speech with an estimate of the probable error of…

— Bertrand Russell

If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no…

— Bertrand Russell

Some 'advanced thinkers' are of the opinion that anyone who differs from the conventional opinion must be in the right. This is…

— Bertrand Russell

Freedom in education has many aspects. There is first of all freedom to learn or not to learn. Then there is freedom…

— Bertrand Russell

Measures of sterilization should, in my opinion, be very definitely confined to persons who are mentally defective

— Bertrand Russell

It seems clear to me that marriage ought to be constituted by children, and relations not involving children ought to be ignored…

— Bertrand Russell

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed, in view…

— Bertrand Russell

Collective wisdom, alas, is no adequate substitute for the intelligence of individuals. Individuals who opposed received opinions have been the source of…

— Bertrand Russell

The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure…

— Bertrand Russell

There is something feeble, and a little contemptible, about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of…

— Bertrand Russell

In America everybody is of the opinion that he has no social superiors, since all men are equal, but he does not…

— Bertrand Russell

When there are rational grounds for an opinion, people are content to set them forth and wait for them to operate. In…

— Bertrand Russell

To speak seriously: the standards of "goodness" which are generally recognized by public opinion are not those which are calculated to make…

— Bertrand Russell

Thee might observe incidentally that if the state paid for child-bearing it might and ought to require a medical certificate that the…

— Bertrand Russell

If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subsciously aware of having no…

— Bertrand Russell

Citizens as conceived by governments are persons who admire the status quo and are prepared to exert themselves for its preservation. Oddly…

— Bertrand Russell

The sentiments of an adult are compounded of a kernel of instinct surrounded by a vast husk of education.

— Bertrand Russell

No opinion has ever been too errant to become a creed.

— Bertrand Russell

There may be no good reasons for very many opinions that are held with passion.

— Bertrand Russell

Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.

— Bertrand Russell

To avoid the various foolish opinions to which mankind are prone, no superhuman genius is required. A few simple rules will keep…

— Bertrand Russell

Public opinion is always more tyrannical towards those who obviously fear it than towards those who feel indifferent to it.

— Bertrand Russell

One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond…

— Bertrand Russell

A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress though whether the amoeba…

— Bertrand Russell

One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of…

— Bertrand Russell

Dogma demands authority, rather than intelligent thought, as the source of opinion; it requires persecution of heretics and hostility to unbelievers; it…

— Bertrand Russell

Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog…

— Bertrand Russell

The whole realm of thought and opinion is utterly unsuited to public control; it ought to be as free, and as spontaneous…

— Bertrand Russell

The essence of the liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held; instead of being…

— Bertrand Russell