Quote by Bertrand Russell
We want to stand upon our own feet and look fair and square at the world - its good facts, its bad facts, its beauties, and its ugliness; see the world as it is and be not afraid of it. Conquer the world by intelligence and not merely by being slavishly subdued by the terror that comes from it. The whole conception of God is a conception derived from the ancient Oriental despotisms. It is a conception quite unworthy of free men. When you hear people in church debasing themselves and saying that they are miserable sinners, and all the rest of it, it seems contemptible and not worthy of self-respecting human beings. We ought to stand up and look the world frankly in the face. We ought to make the best we can of the world, and if it is not so good as we wish, after all it will still be better than what these others have made of it in all these ages. A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men. It needs hope for the future, not looking back all the time toward a past that is dead, which we trust will be far surpassed by the future that our intelligence can create.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the importance of facing the world with courage, intelligence, and a critical mindset. The author rejects the concept of God and the notion of humans being inherently sinful, viewing it as an oppressive idea derived from ancient despotic regimes. Instead, they advocate for a proactive approach to life, where individuals should confront the world as it truly is, both its positive and negative aspects. Rather than being held back by outdated beliefs, the author encourages cultivating knowledge, empathy, and hope as drivers for progress in creating a better future.
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