Bertrand Russell Quotes
Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and political activist whose work is foundational to 20th-century analytic philosophy. With Alfred North Whitehead he co-authored Principia Mathematica, which sought to derive all of mathematics from logic, and his work on the theory of descriptions and logical atomism shaped much of analytic philosophy that followed. The quotes below are attributed to Bertrand Russell, organized by topic.
Bertrand Russell on Knowledge
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.”
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true.”
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“Science is what we know and philosophy is what we don't know.”
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.”
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinise it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it.”
Bertrand Russell on Life
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.”
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”
Bertrand Russell on Love
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.”
Bertrand Russell on Mind
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so.”
Bertrand Russell on Truth
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Attributed to Bertrand Russell:
“Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty.”