Bertrand-russell Quote by Bertrand Russell
““Two things are to be remembered: that a man whose opinions and theories are worth studying may be presumed to have had some intelligence, but that no man is likely to have arrived at complete and final truth on any subject whatever. When an intelligent man expresses a view which seems to us obviously absurd, we should not attempt to prove that it is somehow true, but we should try to understand how it ever came toseemtrue. Thisexercise of historical and psychological imagination at once enlarges the scope of our thinking, and helps us to realize how foolish many of our own cherished prejudices will seem to an age which has a different temper of mind.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell, 1912
Intellectual humility requires us to consider why even intelligent people can hold mistaken views and to imagine the historical and psychological forces behind them.
In simple terms: Understand why smart people can be wrong.
Key Takeaway
Seek context before judging.
Themes
humility
critical thinking
history
psychology
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- political discourse
- media analysis
- personal belief revision
Key Concepts
epistemology
bias
cognitive psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How might your own biases be shaped by your era?
- What steps can you take to understand opposing viewpoints?
A Different Perspective
Assuming all errors stem from ignorance ignores systemic factors.
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