Able Quote by Bertrand Russell
“Hegel's philosophy is so odd that one would not have expected him to be able to get sane men to accept it, but he did. He set it out with so much obscurity that people thought it must be profound. It can quite easily be expounded lucidly in words of one syllable, but then its absurdity becomes obvious.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Why I Am Not a Christian, 1927
Complex ideas can appear profound until explained simply, revealing their absurdity.
In simple terms: Simplicity exposes nonsense.
Key Takeaway
Seek plain‑language explanations.
Themes
philosophy
clarity
critical thinking
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic lectures
- public debates
- media commentary
Key Concepts
conceptual analysis
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can all deep ideas be reduced to simple terms?
- When does simplification distort meaning?
A Different Perspective
Some concepts resist simplification without loss.
![“This [Hegel's philosophy] illustrates an important truth, namely, that the worse your logic, the more interesting the consequences to which it gives rise.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/507/bertrand-russell-69_hegel_this-hegel-s-philosophy-illustrates-an-i_2511241.jpg)
![“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)
