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Beliefs4 quotes
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 · 1928The 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 · 1929It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true. — Bertrand Russell · 1928Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones. — Bertrand Russell · 1950Unfounded beliefs3 quotes
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 · 1928The 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 · 1929It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true. — Bertrand Russell · 1928Mathematics2 quotes
Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty—a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. — Bertrand Russell · 1907Mathematics takes us still further from what is human, into the region of absolute necessity, to which only the actual world, but every possible world, must conform. — Bertrand Russell · 1907Beauty of math1 quote
Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty—a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. — Bertrand Russell · 1907Conformity1 quote
One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny. — Bertrand Russell · 1930Controlling others1 quote
Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure consists in preventing others from enjoying themselves, or, more generally, in the acquisition of power. — Bertrand Russell · 1928Credulity1 quote
Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones. — Bertrand Russell · 1950Critical thinking1 quote
The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason. — Bertrand Russell · 1912Cruelty1 quote
The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell. — Bertrand Russell · 1928Delusion1 quote
Every man, wherever he goes, is encompassed by a cloud of comforting convictions, which move with him like flies on a summer day. — Bertrand Russell · 1928Equality1 quote
The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich. — Bertrand Russell · 1932Evidence1 quote
If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. — Bertrand Russell · 1970Giving up1 quote
To acquiesce in despair is the very way to make despairing forecasts come true. — Bertrand Russell · 1951Hell1 quote
The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell. — Bertrand Russell · 1928Hope1 quote
To acquiesce in despair is the very way to make despairing forecasts come true. — Bertrand Russell · 1951Hopelessness and despair1 quote
To acquiesce in despair is the very way to make despairing forecasts come true. — Bertrand Russell · 1951Infidelity1 quote
The psychology of adultery has been falsified by conventional morals, which assume, in monogamous countries, that attraction to one person cannot coexist with a serious affection for another. Everybody knows that this is untrue. — Bertrand Russell · 1929Laws of physics1 quote
Mathematics takes us still further from what is human, into the region of absolute necessity, to which only the actual world, but every possible world, must conform. — Bertrand Russell · 1907Leisure1 quote
The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich. — Bertrand Russell · 1932Man and animals1 quote
A dog cannot relate his autobiography; however eloquently he may bark, he cannot tell you that his parents were honest though poor. — Bertrand Russell · 1948Nature of man1 quote
Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones. — Bertrand Russell · 1950Philosophy1 quote
The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason. — Bertrand Russell · 1912Questioning one's beliefs1 quote
The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason. — Bertrand Russell · 1912Religious persecution1 quote
The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion. — Bertrand Russell · 1950Rich vs. poor1 quote
The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich. — Bertrand Russell · 1932Social hierarchy1 quote
Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid. — Bertrand Russell · 1932Superstition1 quote
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. — Bertrand Russell · 1950Thinking for oneself1 quote
One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny. — Bertrand Russell · 1930Vulnerability in love1 quote
Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness. — Bertrand Russell · 1930Work1 quote
Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid. — Bertrand Russell · 1932