---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may be laid down as a general rule to…"
description: "\"“It may be laid down as a general rule to which there are few exceptions that, when people are mistaken as to what is to their own interest, the course..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/bertrand-russell-69_believe-wise_it-may-be-laid-down-as-a-general-rule-to_429751.jpg"
---

#  It may be laid down as a general rule to which there are…

![“It may be laid down as a general rule to which there are few exceptions that, when people are mistaken as to what is to their own interest, the course that they believe to be wise is more harmful to others than the course that really is wise. Therefore anything that makes people better judges of…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/bertrand-russell-69_believe-wise_it-may-be-laid-down-as-a-general-rule-to_429751.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/bertrand-russell-69_believe-wise_it-may-be-laid-down-as-a-general-rule-to_429751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/bertrand-russell-69_believe-wise_it-may-be-laid-down-as-a-general-rule-to_429751.jpg)

> ““It may be laid down as a general rule to which there are few exceptions that, when people are mistaken as to what is to their own interest, the course that they believe to be wise is more harmful to others than the course that really is wise. Therefore anything that makes people better judges of their own interest does good.””

[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.

People often mistake self‑interest for wisdom, leading to harmful choices; better self‑knowledge improves decisions for all

**In simple terms:** Misreading self‑interest harms others; true insight helps everyone

Key Takeaway

Encourage critical self‑reflection and education

Themes

wisdom self‑interest ethical decision‑making

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal finance
- public policy
- healthcare decisions
- environmental choices

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies foster accurate self‑interest?
- What tools help individuals assess true interests?

A Different Perspective

Self‑interest can be rationalized, making change difficult

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