Chosen Quote by Bertrand Russell
“And all this madness, all this rage, all this flaming death of our civilization and our hopes, has been brought about because a set of official gentlemen, living luxurious lives, mostly stupid, and all without imagination or heart, have chosen that it should occur rather than that any one of them should suffer some infinitesimal rebuff to his country's pride.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown, likely public commentary, 20th century
The quote condemns the complacent, privileged elite who, lacking imagination and empathy, allow societal decay for their own comfort, avoiding any small challenge to national pride.
In simple terms: Elite indifference fuels societal collapse.
Key Takeaway
Challenge complacency, demand accountability.
Themes
politics
society
elitism
responsibility
Mood
critical
somber
reflective
Type
cautionary
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- activist campaigns
- educational curricula
- media analysis
Key Concepts
moral decay
power dynamics
collective responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Who holds real power to change?
- How can imagination reshape policy?
A Different Perspective
It may overgeneralize and ignore systemic complexities.
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
![“[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world... Land, labor, and capital are extremely heterogeneous aggregates, not much better than earth, air, fire, and water.” quote by Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/47e/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_air_in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-ch_12383.jpg)
