Thinking you know when in fact you don't is a fatal mistake, to which we are all prone — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
When people begin to philosophize they seem to think it necessary to make themselves artificially stupid. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The pursuit of knowledge is, I think, mainly actuated by love of power. And so are all advances in scientific technique. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you. — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I don't care for the applause one gets by saying what others are thinking; I want actually to change people's thoughts. Power… — 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 skill of the politician consists in guessing what people can be brought to think advantageous to themselves; the skill of the… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
We all have a tendency to think that the world must conform to our prejudices. The opposite view involves some effort of… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I think periods of browsing during which no occupation is imposed from without are important in youth because they give time for… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Never let yourself be diverted, either by what you wish to believe, or what you think could have beneficent social effects if… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
For love of domination we must substitute equality; for love of victory we must substitute justice; for brutality we must substitute intelligence;… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The painter has to unlearn the habit of thinking that things seem to have the color which common sense says they 'really'… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
An educator should think of a child as a gardener thinks of a plant, as something to be made to grow by… — 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
If you think your belief is based upon reason, you will support it by argument rather than by persecution, and will abandon… — 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
The chicken noticed that the farmer came every day to feed it. It predicted that the farmer would continue to bring food… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Philosophy, for Plato, is a kind of vision, the 'vision of truth'...Everyone who has done any kind of creative work has experienced,… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Scientific societies are as yet in their infancy. It is to be expected that advances in physiology and psychology will give governments… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
One must expect a war between U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. which will begin with the total destruction of London. I think the war… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I do wish I believed in the life eternal, for it makes me quite miserable to think man is merely a kind… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
At first it seems obvious, but the more you think about it the stranger the deductions from this axiom seem to become;… — 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… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Aristotle could have avoided the mistake of thinking that women have fewer teeth than men, by the simple device of asking Mrs.… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
There is an element of the busybody in our conception of virtue: unless a man makes himself a nuisance to a great… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I am aware that many divines are far more marvelous than I am, and that I cannot wholly appreciate merits so far… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The habit of looking to the future and thinking that the whole meaning of the present lies in what it will bring… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Perhaps the nuclear physicists have come so near to the ultimate secrets that He thinks it time to bring their activities to… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
There are still many people in America who regard depressions as acts of God. I think Keynes proved that the responsibility for… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I think modern educational theorists are inclined to attach too much importance to the negative virtue of not interfering with children, and… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
The wise man thinks about his troubles only when there is some purpose in doing so; at other times he thinks about… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
We do not like to be robbed of an enemy; we want someone to hate when we suffer. It is so depressing… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I do not believe that science per se is an adequate source of happiness, nor do I think that my own scientific… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
“Travelling, whether in the mental or the physical world, is a joy, and it is good to know that, in the mental… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Although it is a gloomy view to suppose that life will die out, sometimes when I contemplate the things that people do… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
It has become a commonplace that aggressiveness also often has its roots in fear. I am inclined to think that this theory… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
I am looking forward very much to getting back to Cambridge, and being able to say what I think and not to… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
Some care is needed in using Descartes' argument. "I think, therefore I am" says rather more than is strictly certain. It might… — Bertrand Russell Copy Share Image
If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subsciously aware of having no… — 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
![“More and more people are becoming unable to accept traditional [religious] beliefs. If they think that, apart from these beliefs, there is no reason for kindly behaviour, the results may be needlessly unfortunate. That is why it is important to show that no supernatural reasons are needed to make…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_more-and-more-people-are-becoming-unable_1214762.jpg)
![“It has become a commonplace that aggressiveness also often has its roots in fear. I am inclined to think that this theory has been pushed too far. [...] The type of aggressiveness that is the outcome of timidity is not, I think, that which inspires great leaders; the great leaders, I should say…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/bertrand-russell-69_aggressiveness_it-has-become-a-commonplace-that-aggress_2688068.jpg)
![“If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. [...] The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. Persecution is used in theology, not in…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/bertrand-russell-69_angry_if-an-opinion-contrary-to-your-own-makes_997355.jpg)
