Adoration Quote by Bertrand Russell
“Experience has taught me a technique for dealing with such people [...] I counter the devotees of the Great Pyramid by adoration of the Sphinx; and the devotee of nuts by pointing out that hazelnuts and walnuts are as deleterious as other foods and only Brazil nuts should be tolerated. But when I was younger I had not yet acquired this technique, with the result that my contacts with cranks were sometimes alarming.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: On the Technique of Dealing with Extremists, 1925
He developed a method of countering extreme views by using humor and selective tolerance.
In simple terms: He uses humor and tolerance to handle extremists.
Apply humor and selective tolerance to extreme ideas.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- debates
- online discussions
- personal interactions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can humor be used responsibly?
- When is tolerance counterproductive?
Humor may not always defuse tension.