Bertrand Russell Quotes

A collection of quotes by Bertrand Russell.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, social critic, and Nobel laureate. He is regarded as one of the most prominent and influential figures in 20th-century philosophy.

Russell was born into an aristocratic family in Wales, United Kingdom. He excelled academically from an early age and went on to study mathematics and philosophy at Trinity College, Cambridge. His groundbreaking work in logic and mathematics, particularly in the field of symbolic logic, earned him international recognition and set the stage for his later philosophical inquiries.

Throughout his career, Russell explored a wide range of topics, including metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of language. He played a significant role in the development of analytic philosophy, which emphasizes logical analysis and clarity of thought. His philosophical views evolved over time, but he remained committed to rationality, empiricism, and the pursuit of truth.

Apart from his philosophical work, Russell was also engaged in activism and social critique. He passionately advocated for pacifism, education reform, women's rights, and nuclear disarmament, often facing controversy and political persecution as a result.

In 1950, Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his wide-ranging writings, which covered a variety of disciplines and demonstrated exceptional clarity of thought and a profound impact on contemporary culture. He continued his intellectual pursuits until his death in 1970, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century.

Conventional people are roused to fury by departure from con

Conventional people are roused to fury by departure from convention, largely because they regard such departure as a criticism of themselves.

Bertrand Russell


Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never

Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true.

Bertrand Russell


The most savage controversies are those about matters as to

The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way.

Bertrand Russell


And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He wo

And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence

Bertrand Russell


It is possible that mankind is on the threshold of a golden

It is possible that mankind is on the threshold of a golden age; but, if so, it will be necessary first to slay the dragon that guards the door, and this dragon is religion.

Bertrand Russell


Real life is, to most men, a long second-best, a perpetual c

Real life is, to most men, a long second-best, a perpetual compromise between the ideal and the possible; but the world of pure reason knows no compromise, no practical limitations, no barrier to the creative activity.

Bertrand Russell


The secret of happiness is to face the fact that the world i

The secret of happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible, horrible, horrible.

Bertrand Russell


Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth more th

Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth more than ruin more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.

Bertrand Russell


The method of postulating what we want has many advantages;

The method of postulating what we want has many advantages; they are the same as the advantages of theft over honest toil.

Bertrand Russell


[T]he infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a deli

[T]he infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell.

Bertrand Russell


Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of

Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country.

Bertrand Russell


We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side one whi

We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side one which we preach but do not practice, and another which we practice but seldom preach.

Bertrand Russell


There are two motives for reading a book one, that you enjoy

There are two motives for reading a book one, that you enjoy it the other, that you can boast about it.

Bertrand Russell


The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

Bertrand Russell


A stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be

A stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.

Bertrand Russell


The opinions that are held with passion are always those for

The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holder's lack of rational conviction. Opinions in politics and religion are almost always held passionately.

Bertrand Russell


To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are al

To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already 3-parts dead.

Bertrand Russell


Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more

Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin, more even than death. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habits; thought is anarchic and lawless, indifferent to authority, careless of the well-tried wisdom of the ages. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid ... Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.

Bertrand Russell


Aristotle could have avoided the mistake of thinking that wo

Aristotle could have avoided the mistake of thinking that women have fewer teeth than men, by the simple device of asking Mrs. Aristotle to keep her mouth open while he counted. p. 135.

Bertrand Russell


Many people would sooner die than think In fact, they do so.

Many people would sooner die than think In fact, they do so.

Bertrand Russell