1001Philosophers

Bertrand Russell Quotes on Love

Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and political activist whose work is foundational to 20th-century analytic philosophy. This page collects quotes attributed to Bertrand Russell on the topic of love, drawn from across the philosopher's works.

Quotes

  • 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.”

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

    What I Believe, 1925
  • “To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.”

    Marriage and Morals, 1929
  • “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). Smith was a Quaker, thus the archaic use of "Thee" in this and other letters to her.