424 quotes
Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure consists in preventing others from enjoying themselves, or, more generally, in the acquisition of power.
Sceptical Essays (1928)
Pure mathematics consists entirely of assertions to the effect that, if such and such a proposition is true of anything, then such and such another proposition is true of that thing.
There is an artist imprisoned in each one of us. Let him loose to spread joy everywhere.
"Look at me" is one of the most fundamental desires of the human heart.
What Desires Are Politically Important? (1950)
This very inadequate notion of virtue is an outcome of taboo morality, and has done untold harm.
Human Society in Ethics and Politics (1954)
It is only when we think abstractly that we have such a high opinion of man.
Essay Do We Survive Death? (1936)
I believe marriage to be the best and most important relation that can exist between two human beings.
It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.
We are speaking on this occasion, not as members of this or that nation, continent, or creed, but as human beings, members of the species Man, whose continued existence is in doubt.
The Russell-Einstein Manifesto (1955)
The fact that a belief has a good moral effect upon a man is no evidence whatsoever in favor of its truth.
I dislike Communism because it is undemocratic, and capitalism because it favors exploitation.
Unarmed Victory (1963)
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.
The secret of happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible, horrible, horrible.
Every great study is not only an end in itself, but also a means of creating and sustaining a lofty habit of mind.
Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays (1918)
Not to be absolutely certain is, I think, one of the essential things in rationality.
Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic? (1947)
In fact, contempt for happiness is usually contempt for other people's happiness, and is an elegant disguise for hatred of the human race.
Portraits from Memory and Other Essays (1956)
Science is what we know, and philosophy is what we don't know.
Unpopular Essays (1950)
Facts have to be discovered by observation, not by reasoning.
The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell.
Sceptical Essays (1928)
It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.