Bertrand Russell Quotes

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

Stupid, Doubt, Trouble

Quote

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
Bertrand Russell

Time, Enjoy, Wasted

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
Bertrand Russell

War, Left, Determine

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

Funny, Die, Wrong

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

Love, Life, Fear

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

Problem, Whole, Themselves

Love is something far more than desire for sexual intercourse; it is the principal means of escape from the loneliness which afflicts most men and women throughout the greater part of their lives.
Bertrand Russell

Love, Women, Men

Quote

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

One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny.
Bertrand Russell

Respect, Opinion, Keep

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.
Bertrand Russell

Life, Love, Knowledge

Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate.
Bertrand Russell

Liberty, Tyranny, Exercise

The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
Bertrand Russell

Funny, Waiting, Grow

Democracy is the process by which people choose the man who'll get the blame.
Bertrand Russell

Democracy, Blame, Process

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

Education, Men, Stupid

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.
Bertrand Russell

Knowledge, Pleasure, Useless

I believe in using words, not fists. I believe in my outrage knowing people are living in boxes on the street. I believe in honesty. I believe in a good time. I believe in good food. I believe in sex.
Bertrand Russell

Time, Good, Food

In America everybody is of the opinion that he has no social superiors, since all men are equal, but he does not admit that he has no social inferiors, for, from the time of Jefferson onward, the doctrine that all men are equal applies only upwards, not downwards.
Bertrand Russell

Equality, Time, Men

The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
Bertrand Russell

Life, Love, Good

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
Bertrand Russell

Wisdom, Fear, Beginning

The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history.
Bertrand Russell

Great, Men, History

Anything you're good at contributes to happiness.
Bertrand Russell

Happiness, Good

Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relative to other matter; second, telling other people to do so.
Bertrand Russell

Work, Two, Matter

Marriage is for women the commonest mode of livelihood, and the total amount of undesired sex endured by women is probably greater in marriage than in prostitution.
Bertrand Russell

Marriage, Women, Sex

Boredom is... a vital problem for the moralist, since half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.
Bertrand Russell

Fear, Problem, Boredom

Dogmatism and skepticism are both, in a sense, absolute philosophies; one is certain of knowing, the other of not knowing. What philosophy should dissipate is certainty, whether of knowledge or ignorance.
Bertrand Russell

Knowledge, Ignorance, Philosophy

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.

Biography

Nationality: British

Type: Philosopher

Born: May 18, 1872

Died: February 2, 1970

Links

Find on Amazon: Bertrand Russell

Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Related Authors

F. H. Bradley
Paul Brunton
Benjamin Whichcote
Jonathan Bennett
Francis Herbert Hedge
Abraham Tucker
Gilbert Ryle
More

Get Social with BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote of the Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

Syndication

Funny Quote Feed

Love Quote Feed

Nature Quote Feed

About Us