Bertrand Russell Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Bertrand Russell quotes, Bertrand Russell sayings, and Bertrand Russell proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

Science can teach us, and I think our own hearts can teach us, no longer to look around for imaginary supports, no longer to invent allies in the sky, but rather to look to our own efforts here below to make this world a fit place to live in, instead Bertrand Russell
Drunkenness is temporary suicide. Bertrand Russell
Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country. Bertrand Russell
Patience and boredom are closely related. Boredom, a certain kind of boredom, is really impatience. You don't like the way things are, they aren't interesting enough for you, so you decide – and boredom is a decision – that you are bored. Bertrand Russell
The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one, particularly if he plays golf. Bertrand Russell
A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live. Bertrand Russell
A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live. Bertrand Russell
Time you enjoy wasting, was is wasted time. Bertrand Russell
A widespread belief is more often likely to be foolish than sensible. Bertrand Russell
When you are studying any matter or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only: what are the facts, and what is the truth that the facts bear out. Never let yourself be diverted by what you wish to believe, but look only and surely at what are the facts. Bertrand Russell
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd. Bertrand Russell
Awareness of universals is called conceiving, and a universal of which we are aware is called a concept. Bertrand Russell
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important. Bertrand Russell
We have two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do not practice and another which we practice but seldom preach. Bertrand Russell
There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it. Bertrand Russell
The fundamental concept in social science is power, in the same sense in which energy is the fundamental concept in physics. Bertrand Russell
Physics is mathematical not because we know so much about the physical world, but because we know so little; it is only its mathematical properties that we can discover. Bertrand Russell
Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons. Bertrand Russell
Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country. Bertrand Russell
Boredom is a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half of the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it. Bertrand Russell
The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one, particularly if he plays golf. Bertrand Russell
Those who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give. Bertrand Russell
Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery. Bertrand Russell
The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell. Bertrand Russell
As soon as we abandon our own reason, and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles. Bertrand Russell
The fundamental cause of trouble in the world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. Bertrand Russell
Keeping an open mind is a virtue, but not so open that your brains fall out. Bertrand Russell
No man can be a good teacher unless he has feelings of warm affection toward his pupils and a genuine desire to impart to them what he believes to be of value. Bertrand Russell
It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly. Bertrand Russell
In the ordinary business of life punctuality is . . . necessary. Bertrand Russell