Aggression Quote by Bertrand Russell
“The criminal law has, from the point of view of thwarted virtue, the merit of allowing an outlet for those impulses of aggression which cowardice, disguised as morality, restrains in their more spontaneous forms. War has the same merit. You must not kill you neighbor, whom perhaps you genuinely hate, but by a little propaganda this hate can be transferred to some foreign nation, against whom all your murderous impulses become patriotic heroism.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Conquest of Happiness, Bertrand Russell, 1930
The law and war channel aggressive impulses that moral restraint suppresses, turning them into socially acceptable actions.
In simple terms: Law and war let aggressive urges be expressed socially.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how institutions redirect harmful impulses.
Themes
morality
aggression
social control
war
law
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- military recruitment
- legal reform
- media propaganda
Key Concepts
psychology
political theory
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societies justify aggression through law?
- Can moral frameworks be reformed to reduce violent outlets?
A Different Perspective
Such redirection can legitimize violence and erode personal responsibility.
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