Atheism Quote by Bertrand Russell
![“[Regarding] the convention that clergymen are more virtuous than other men. Any average selection of mankind, set apart and told that it excels the rest in virtue, must tend to sink below the average.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e78/bertrand-russell-69_atheism_regarding-the-convention-that-clergymen_570434.jpg)
“[Regarding] the convention that clergymen are more virtuous than other men. Any average selection of mankind, set apart and told that it excels the rest in virtue, must tend to sink below the average.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Why I Am Not a Christian, Bertrand Russell, 1927
The belief that clergy are inherently more moral leads to complacency and eventual decline compared to the general population.
In simple terms: Thinking clergy are superior in virtue can cause moral decay.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about moral superiority.
Themes
morality
authority
human nature
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- religious institutions
- leadership roles
- community standards
- personal ethics
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
social hierarchy
psychology of belief
Questions to Reflect On
- How does moral superiority affect behavior?
- What checks prevent ethical decline?
A Different Perspective
Not all clergy are virtuous; virtue depends on individual actions.
![“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)
