Believer Quote by Bertrand Russell
“Fervent religious believers sacrifice pleasures of the body, but instead enjoy pleasures of the mind, including the joy of knowing that those men who didn't follow their religion would be tortured for eternity.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Why I Am Not a Christian, Bertrand Russell, 1927
He argues that religious believers reject bodily pleasures for mental ones, finding satisfaction in the idea that non‑believers will suffer eternally.
In simple terms: Religious people prefer mental over physical pleasure, enjoying imagined punishment of others.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of deriving joy from others' suffering.
Themes
religion
morality
psychology
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- debates on faith
- ethical discussions
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
nihilism
schadenfreude
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever find satisfaction in others' misfortune?
- How can empathy replace schadenfreude?
A Different Perspective
Such joy can foster cruelty and dehumanization.
![“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)
