Feelings Quote by Bertrand Russell
“If a philosophy is to bring happiness it should be inspired by kindly feelings. Marx pretended that he wanted the happiness of the proletariat; what he really wanted was the unhappiness of the bourgeois.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Conquest of Happiness, 1930
A philosophy aiming for happiness should stem from kindness; Marx’s true aim was to keep the bourgeois unhappy.
In simple terms: Happiness philosophy needs kindness; Marx’s motive was different.
Key Takeaway
Seek kindness‑based happiness, not political manipulation.
Themes
ethics
political philosophy
happiness
Mood
thought‑provoking
critical
Type
philosophical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- personal well‑being
- social activism
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
kindness
class critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Can kindness truly resolve class conflict?
- What role should justice play in happiness?
A Different Perspective
Kindness alone may not address systemic oppression.
![“To the Jacobins of this epoch [the French Revolution], as well as to those of our times, this popular entity constitutes a superior personality possessing attributes peculiar to the gods of never having to answer for their actions and never making a mistake. Their wishes must be humbly acceded to…” quote by Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb6/gustave-le-bon-10163_character_to-the-jacobins-of-this-epoch-the-french_220492.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)
