1,551 Quotes by Bertrand Russell

Since Adam and Eve ate the apple, man has never refrained from any folly of which he was capable

Undoubtedly the desire for food has been, and still is, one of the main causes of great political events.

Half the useful work in the world consists of combating the harmful work.

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

A sense of duty is useful in work, but offensive in personal relations.

As soon as we abandon our own reason, and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles.

An irrational fear should never be simply let alone, but should be gradually overcome by familiarity with its fainter forms.

The first effect of emancipation from the Church was not to make men think rationally, but to open their minds to every sort of antique nonsense.

Those who in principle oppose birth control are either incapable of arithmetic or else in favor of war, pestilence and famine as permanent features of human life.