scott@randomchaos.com A sense of duty is useful in work, but offensive in personal relations. People wish to be liked, not be endured with patient resignation. Bertrand Russell A stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be accurate, because he unconciously translates what he hears into something he can understand. Bertrand Russell All movements go too far. Bertrand Russell 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. Bertrand Russell Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Bertrand Russell I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn't wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine. Bertrand Russell I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong. Bertrand Russell If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years. Bertrand Russell In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted. Bertrand Russell It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this. Bertrand Russell Life is nothing but a competition to be the criminal rather than the victim. Bertrand Russell Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so. Bertrand Russell Mathematics, rightly viewed, posses not only truth, but supreme beauty - a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture. Bertrand Russell Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man. Bertrand Russell No one gossips about other people's secret virtues. Bertrand Russell One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important. Bertrand Russell Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man. Bertrand Russell Passive acceptance of the teacher's wisdom is easy to most boys and girls. It involves no effort of independent thought, and seems rational because the teacher knows more than his pupils; it is moreover the way to win the favour of the teacher unless he is a very exceptional man. Yet the habit of passive acceptance is a disastrous one in later life. It causes man to seek and to accept a leader, and to accept as a leader whoever is established in that position. Bertrand Russell Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons. Bertrand Russell So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence. Bertrand Russell The main things which seem to me important on their own account, and not merely as means to other things, are knowledge, art, instinctive happiness, and relations of frendship or affection. Bertrand Russell The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others. Bertrand Russell The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one, particularly if he plays golf. Bertrand Russell The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Bertrand Russell The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. Bertrand Russell There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. Bertrand Russell There is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action. Bertrand Russell This is one of those views which are so absolutely absurd that only very learned men could possibly adopt them. Bertrand Russell To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at present very few people have reached this level. Bertrand Russell To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness. Bertrand Russell Too little liberty brings stagnation and too much brings chaos. Bertrand Russell