--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not by delusion, however exalted…" description: "\"It is not by delusion, however exalted, that mankind can prosper, but only by unswerving courage in the pursuit of truth.\" — Bertrand Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/bertrand-russell-69_courage_it-is-not-by-delusion-however-exalted-th_1668512.jpg" --- # It is not by delusion, however exalted, that mankind can… ![“It is not by delusion, however exalted, that mankind can prosper, but only by unswerving courage in the pursuit of truth.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/bertrand-russell-69_courage_it-is-not-by-delusion-however-exalted-th_1668512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/bertrand-russell-69_courage_it-is-not-by-delusion-however-exalted-th_1668512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/bertrand-russell-69_courage_it-is-not-by-delusion-however-exalted-th_1668512.jpg) > “It is not by delusion, however exalted, that mankind can prosper, but only by unswerving courage in the pursuit of truth.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True progress requires steadfast courage to seek truth, not comforting delusions. **In simple terms:** Courage and truth lead to prosperity. Key Takeaway Seek truth boldly. Themes courage truth prosperity philosophy Mood determined reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - scientific research - personal growth - social reform Key Concepts Ethics Epistemology Humanism Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront comforting falsehoods? - What truth are you avoiding? A Different Perspective Courage alone may not overcome systemic obstacles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Desert this mad and unfounded obsession with the so-called truth. 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It doesn't pay very well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-haidle/i-live-my-life-in-pursuit-of-truth-and-beauty-it-doesn-t-pay-very-well/) Noah Haidle > [“The pursuit of truth, not of facts, is the business of fiction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oakley-hall/the-pursuit-of-truth-not-of-facts-is-the-business-of-fiction/) [Oakley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oakley-hall/) > [The pursuit of truth shall set you free - even if you never catch up with it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/the-pursuit-of-truth-shall-set-you-free-even-if-you-never-catch-up/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## More by Bertrand Russell > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/such-in-outline-but-even-more-purposeless-more-void-of-meaning-is-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. 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This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-no-greater-reason-for-children-to-honour-parents-than-for/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. 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