Bertrand Russell Quotes

Nothing is so exhausting as indecision, and nothing is so futile.

"War was always a great evil, but in some particularly extreme circumstances, it may be the lesser of two evils."

Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for the love, the search for the knowledge, and the unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.

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.

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.

I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.

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

One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.

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

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

If I were a medical man, I should prescribe a holiday to any patient who considered his work important.

Right discipline consists, not in external compulsion, but in the habits of mind which lead spontaneously to desirable rather than undesirable activities.

Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.

Curious learning not only makes unpleasant things less unpleasant, but also make pleasant things more pleasant.

I have enjoyed peaches and apricots more since I have known that they were first cultivated in China in the early days of Han Dynasty; that Chinese hostages held by the great King Kaniska ..... All this makes the fruit taste much sweeter.

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.

The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible and let your reactions to the things and persons that interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile.

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do.