--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who maintain that mind is the…" description: "\"“Those who maintain that mind is the reality and matter an evil dream are called \"idealists\"—a word which has a different meaning in philosophy from th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/bertrand-russell-69_dreams_those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-real_218412.jpg" --- # Those who maintain that mind is the reality and matter an… ![“Those who maintain that mind is the reality and matter an evil dream are called "idealists"—a word which has a different meaning in philosophy from that which it bears in ordinary life. Those who argue that matter is the reality and mind a mere property of protoplasm are called "materialists.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/bertrand-russell-69_dreams_those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-real_218412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/bertrand-russell-69_dreams_those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-real_218412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/bertrand-russell-69_dreams_those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-real_218412.jpg) > ““Those who maintain that mind is the reality and matter an evil dream are called "idealists"—a word which has a different meaning in philosophy from that which it bears in ordinary life. Those who argue that matter is the reality and mind a mere property of protoplasm are called "materialists.”” [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. Idealists view mind as primary reality; materialists view matter as primary, each term differs from everyday usage. **In simple terms:** Idealists prioritize mind; materialists prioritize matter. Key Takeaway Recognize philosophical definitions differ from common language. Themes philosophy mind-body idealism materialism Mood analytical curious Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic debate - ethical discussions - science education - personal belief systems Key Concepts ontology epistemology semantic nuance Questions to Reflect On - What does "mind" mean to you? - How do you reconcile philosophical and everyday meanings? A Different Perspective These labels can oversimplify complex viewpoints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Idealists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealists/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Materialists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialists/) [Ordinary life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-life/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Keeping things vague would be cowardly for a movie called 'Materialists.' This movie is interested in talking about the way we turn ourselves into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-song/keeping-things-vague-would-be-cowardly-for-a-movie-called/) [Celine Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-song/) > [I've never understood the division between so-called realists and so-called idealists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-ve-never-understood-the-division-between-so-called-realists-and-so/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Neither idealists nor materialists are right; we must take both idea and expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/neither-idealists-nor-materialists-are-right-we-must-take-both-idea/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It seems to be the fate of idealists to obtain what they have struggled for in a form which destroys their ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-seems-to-be-the-fate-of-idealists-to-obtain-what-they-have/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Philosophy arises from an unusually obstinate attempt to arrive at real knowledge. What passes for knowledge in ordinary life suffers from three defects: it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/philosophy-arises-from-an-unusually-obstinate-attempt-to-arrive-at/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I have friends who are scientists, strict materialists, who don't think science and religion are compatible, but I just think most of us -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/i-have-friends-who-are-scientists-strict-materialists-who-don-t-think/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [I am positive I have a soul; nor can all the books with which materialists have pestered the world ever convince me to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/i-am-positive-i-have-a-soul-nor-can-all-the-books-with-which/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [In no other field of scientific endeavor do otherwise intelligent people feel free to make public claims based on prejudice and ignorance. Yet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/in-no-other-field-of-scientific-endeavor-do-otherwise-intelligent/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [Philosophers have argued for centuries about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but materialists have known all along that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/philosophers-have-argued-for-centuries-about-how-many-angels-can/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Chârvâkas, a very ancient sect in India, were rank materialists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/ch-rv-kas-a-very-ancient-sect-in-india-were-rank-materialists/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Man stands in materialism; you and I are materialists. Our talking about God and Spirit is good; but it is simply the vogue in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-stands-in-materialism-you-and-i-are-materialists-our-talking/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [That intense faith in another world, that intense hatred for this world, that intense power of renunciation, that intense faith in God, that intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/that-intense-faith-in-another-world-that-intense-hatred-for-this/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Materialists' is a kind of Victorian romance, because it's about the marriage market, the way that they always are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-song/materialists-is-a-kind-of-victorian-romance-because-it-s-about-the/) [Celine Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-song/) > [The overwhelming majority of people, including Christians, are materialists. They do not believe in the power of spirit. They believe only in material power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/the-overwhelming-majority-of-people-including-christians-are/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## 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. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-maintained-that-women-have-fewer-teeth-than-men-although-he/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-an-opinion-contrary-to-your-own-makes-you-angry-that-is-a-sign/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-newspapers-at-one-time-said-that-i-was-dead-but-after-carefully/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/persecution-is-used-in-theology-not-in-arithmetic-because-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. 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 Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Those who maintain that mind is the reality and matter an evil dream are called \"idealists\"—a word which has a different meaning in philosophy from that which it bears in ordinary life. Those who argue that matter is the reality and mind a mere property of protoplasm are called \"materialists.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertrand Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-reality-and-matter-an-evil-dream/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreams" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-reality-and-matter-an-evil-dream/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/bertrand-russell-69_dreams_those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-real_218412.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/bertrand-russell-69_dreams_those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-real_218412.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/bertrand-russell-69_dreams_those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-real_218412.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who maintain that mind is the reality and matter an evil dream are called \"idealists\"—a word which has…” — Bertrand Russell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bertrand Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Those who maintain that mind is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-reality-and-matter-an-evil-dream/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-maintain-that-mind-is-the-reality-and-matter-an-evil-dream/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```