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Bertrand Russell on Independence Day

1872–1970

← All quotes by Bertrand Russell

8 quotes

Patriots always talk of dying for their country, and never of killing for their country.

Has Man a Future? (1962)

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.

Sceptical Essays (1928)

Boys and girls should be taught respect for each other's liberty... and that jealousy and possessiveness kill love.

I don't like the spirit of socialism – I think freedom is the basis of everything.

Freedom comes only to those who no longer ask of life that it shall yield them any of those personal goods that are subject to the mutations of time.

A Free Man's Worship (1903)

"patriotism," i.e., a willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.

Sceptical Essays (1928)

[Patriotism is the] willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.

Sceptical Essays (1928)

Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself secure...

Attributed A Fresh Look at Empiricism: 1927-42 (1996)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Bertrand Russell (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.