Bertrand Russell Quotes

(1872-1970),

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric. –

"Televison allows thousands of people to laugh at the same joke and still remain alone."-

"Every advance in civilization has been denounced while it was still recent."

Change is one thing, progress is another. "Change" is scientific, "progress" is ethical; change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.

("UNPOPULAR ESSAYS"

Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by education. –

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

I did not know I loved you until I heard myself telling so, for one instance I thought, "Good God, what have I said?" and then I knew it was true.

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

(Autobiography)

Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so.

Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occured to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths.

"In all things it is a good idea to hang a question mark now and then on the things we have taken for granted”

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

"We know too much and feel too little. At least we feel too little of those creative emotions from which a good life springs."

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