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Bertrand Russell on Valentine's Day

1872–1970

← All quotes by Bertrand Russell

15 quotes

Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.

The Conquest of Happiness (1930)

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

Marriage and Morals (1929)

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

What I Believe (1925)

Life and hope for the world are to be found only in the deeds of love.

Political Ideals (1917)

I have a very simple creed: that life and joy and beauty are better than dusty death.

Love as a relation between men and women was ruined by the desire to make sure of the legitimacy of children.

Marriage and Morals (1929)

Love is wise – Hatred is foolish.

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

Much that passes as idealism is disguised hatred or disguised love of power.

What Desires Are Politically Important? (1950)

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.

Marriage and Morals (1929)

We love those who hate our enemies, and if we had no enemies there would be very few people whom we should love.

What Desires Are Politically Important? (1950)

I feel like that intellectual but plain-looking lady who was warmly complimented on her beauty.

Thee will find out in time that I have a great love of professing vile sentiments, I don't know why, unless it springs from long efforts to avoid priggery.

Letter to Alys Pearsall Smith (1894)

I believe myself that romantic love is the source of the most intense delights that life has to offer. In the relation of a man and woman who love each other with passion and imagination and tenderness, there is something of inestimable value, to be ignorant of which is a great misfortune to any human being.

Marriage and Morals (1929)

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

Misattributed

Attribution

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