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The 45 best sentences of Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher

The 45 best sentences of Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher

April 5, 2024

Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970) was a prestigious British mathematician, philosopher and writer who made important contributions to the world of Western thought.

He was Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950, awarded not only for the depth of his texts but for his humanist spirit. He was, together with Ludwig Wittgenstein and Karl Popper, one of the main references in the field of analytical philosophy. He also theorized about religions and their impact on human societies.

Famous quotes by Bertrand Russell

His pacifism and his fierce opposition to the First World War speak to us of a global thinker who swam against the current designs of the early twentieth century.


In order to fully understand the thinking of this extraordinary thinker, we have set out to collect the best quotes of Bertrand Russell in today's article .

1. The history of the world is the sum of that which would have been avoidable.

Famous quote that refers to the catastrophe of war.

2. I oppose any superstition, be it Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Buddhist.

A synthesis on the value that conferred on religions.

3. Scientists strive to make the impossible possible. Politicians to do the impossible possible.

A contradiction that can only be understood if we know the interests of the political elite.

4. Slander is always simple and credible.

The insult always (or almost always) goes free.


5. Being able to fill leisure in an intelligent way is the last result of civilization.

Knowing how to have fun is a symptom of vitality.

6. That science can survive long depends on psychology; that is, it depends on what human beings want.

Interesting reflection on the human will.

7. How nice would be a world in which no one would be allowed to trade on the stock market unless he had passed an examination of Greek economics and poetry, and in which politicians were obliged to have a solid knowledge of history and the modern novel!

A famous quote by Bertrand Russell with a certain aristocratic look.

8. Much of the difficulties the world is going through are due to the fact that the ignorant are completely safe and the intelligent are full of doubts.

Phrase about intelligence that prevents us from false prophets.


9. The judicious man thinks only of his evils when it leads to something practical; all other moments are dedicated to other things.

Rumination is a bad habit that we should banish from our minds, according to Russell.

10. Among all forms of caution, caution in love is possibly the most lethal to authentic happiness.

Love must be lived spontaneously.

11. The world needs open minds and hearts, and these can not be derived from rigid systems whether old or new.

Reflection on empathy and humanity.

12. Do not think it convenient to act hiding evidence, because the evidence ends up coming to light.

The lies do not have a long journey.

13. Be scrupulous in the truth, even if the truth is uncomfortable, because it is more uncomfortable when you try to hide it.

Famous appointment very in line with the previous one.

14. The conclusion is that we know very little and yet it is amazing how much we know. And even more amazing that such small knowledge can give so much power.

Science and its practical utility.

15. The wise use of leisure is a product of civilization and education.

Another thought about his vision of free time.

16. Mathematics can be defined as the subject of which we never know what we say or if what we say is true.

A perfect summary of how Bertrand Russell perceived exact science.

17. Much of what passes for idealism is hatred or love of masked power.

Our drive for power can become a great enemy of happiness.

18. A generation that does not support boredom will be a generation of little value.

More excerpts about his theory of leisure.

19. The most enlightened among the Greeks held that slavery was justifiable provided the masters were Greeks and barbarian slaves, but the opposite case was contrary to nature.

A nationalist and identity principle that is repeated throughout history.

20. The most difficult thing to learn in life is what bridge one has to cross and which bridge one has to burn.

The power of elections and how they determine us.

21. The prudent man thinks only of his difficulties when he has some object. When not, think of something else.

The worries have to serve to activate the mind in search of solutions and answers.

22The happy man is the one who lives objectively, the one who is free in his affections and has broad interests, the one who ensures happiness through these interests and affections that, in turn, make him an object of interest and the affection of many others.

About happiness and well-being, and the factors that lead us to these.

23. Mathematics possesses not only the truth, but a certain supreme beauty. A cold and austere beauty, like that of a sculpture.

The exact science, according to Bertrand Russell.

24. A symptom that you approach a nervous breakdown is to believe that your work is tremendously important.

Relativizing the labor facet is essential to achieve inner peace.

25. When you find opposition, even if it comes from your husband or your children, try to overcome it through reason and not authority, because a victory that depends on authority is unreal and illusory.

There is no room for self-deception: the only possible victory is victory with better arguments.

26. Be scrupulous in the truth, even if the truth is uncomfortable, because it is more uncomfortable when you try to hide it.

A tip to apply to our day to day.

27. It is the concern for possessions, more than anything else, that prevents man from living noble and freely.

Another phrase by Bertrand Russell in which he talks about the virtue of austerity.

28. The good life is a life inspired by love and guided by knowledge.

A great reflection with which to inspire us and apply at every moment.

29. I deliberately affirm that the Christian religion, as it is organized, has been and still is the main enemy of moral progress in the world.

In this quote he summarizes his assessment of the effect of religions on our society.

30. Lacking any of the things you want is an indispensable condition of happiness.

In this way, unfulfilled aspirations help us to know how to live and to tolerate frustration.

31. Educators, more than any other class of professionals, are the guardians of civilization.

Russell conferred great authority and importance on teachers and teachers.

32. As far as I am concerned, I believe that the theoretical principles of communism are false, and I think that the practice of its maxims immeasurably increases human misery.

Your criticism of communism.

33. A life between books has a very great calm and peace. While it is true that we feel overwhelmed by a terrible hunger for something less tenuous, we spare ourselves the remorse and the horror and the torture and the maddening venom of repentance.

Reading was one of Russell's great passions; hence his therapeutic vision of this activity.

34. Rousseau was crazy, but he was very influential; Hume was sane, but he had no followers.

A curious opinion about two essential thinkers.

35. I observe that a large part of the human species does not believe in God and does not suffer any visible punishment for it. And if there was a God, it seems very unlikely that I had such a sickly vanity as to be offended by those who doubt its existence.

A reduction to the absurd that can make us distrust any dogma of faith.

36. To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already half dead.

Famous love phrase like few.

37. Science is never completely right, but it is rarely completely wrong and generally has a better chance of being right than non-scientific theories.

A conclusion based on statistics that shows us the fallible but reliable nature of the scientific method.

38. Artists are, as a rule, less happy than men of science.

A risky assertion of the great British mathematician.

39. No one should believe himself perfect, or worry too much about the fact that he is not.

On narcissism and the culture of beauty.

40. Why repeat old mistakes with so many new mistakes to make?

A great sentence by Bertrand Russell that strips us of his vitalistic and creative spirit.

41. Man can be scientifically manipulated.

Sad but true, and we have evidence of malpractice in science and medicine in recent times.

42. What is needed is not the will to believe, but the desire to find out, which is exactly the opposite.

Against the dogmas of faith and religion there is a vaccine: science and careful observation of our environment.

43. The pleasure of mental adventure is much more common in the young than in older men and women. It is rare in adult life because everything possible is done to kill him while education lasts.

Blessed childhood, full of land to explore.

44. Humanity has a double morality: one that preaches and does not practice, and another that practices and does not preach.

The great contradiction that our civilization suffers from.

45. It is a waste of energy to be angry at a man who behaves badly, just as it is to be angry at a car that does not start.

There are things that can only be fixed if time and understanding are invested.


THE ANALYSIS OF MIND by Bertrand Russell - FULL AudioBook | GreatestAudioBooks (April 2024).


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