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Quotes from In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays — Bertrand Russell

1872–1970

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9 quotes

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

I think modern educational theorists are inclined to attach too much importance to the negative virtue of not interfering with children, and too little to the positive merit of enjoying their company.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

Two men who differ as to the ends of life cannot hope to agree about education.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

No rules, however wise, are a substitute for affection and tact.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

First of all: what is work? Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

It is, of course, clear that a country with a large foreign population must endeavour, through its schools, to assimilate the children of immigrants. It is, however, unfortunate that a large part of this process should be effected by means of a somewhat blatant nationalism.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

In the past, there was a small leisure class and a larger working class. The leisure class enjoyed advantages for which there was no basis in social justice; this necessarily made it oppressive, limited its sympathies, and caused it to invent theories by which to justify its privileges.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)

Attribution

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