Quotes from Bertrand Russell

An individual human existence should be like a river - small at first, narrowly contained within it's banks, and rushing passionately past rocks and waterfalls. Gradually, the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged with the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being.

As soon as the definite knowledge concerning any subject becomes possible, this subject ceases to be called philosophy, and becomes a separate science.

Gustavo Solivellas dice: Nunca moriría por mis creencias porque podría estar equivocado (Bertrand Russell)

Si existiese en el mundo de hoy un número tan grande de gente que deseara su propia felicidad más de lo que desean la infelicidad del resto, tendríamos el paraíso en unos pocos años

The question whether we are also acquainted with our bare selves, as opposed to particular thoughts and feelings, is a very difficult one, upon which it would be rash to speak positively.

Unul dintre cele mai triste aspecte ale vremurilor noastre este c? cei care au certitudini sunt pro?ti, iar cei cu imagina?ie ?i competen?? sunt plini de dubii ?i indecizie.

We have acquaintance in sensation with the data of the outer senses, and in introspection with the data of what may be called the inner sense--thoughts, feelings, desires, etc.; we have acquaintance in memory with things which have been data either of the outer senses or of the inner sense. Further, it is probable, though not certain, that we have acquaintance with Self, as that which is aware of things or has desires towards things.

Marea problem? cu lumea este c? proÈ™tii È™i fanaticii sunt întotdeauna foarte siguri pe ei, în timp ce oamenii mai înÈ›elepÈ›i, sunt plini de dubii.

There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it." - Bertrand Russell

Now both Berkeley and Leibniz admit that there is a real table, but Berkeley says it is certain ideas in the mind of God, and Leibniz says it is a colony of souls.

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed, in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible

Ninguém senão um covarde escolheria conscientemente viver no paraíso dos tolos. Quando um homem suspeita da infidelidade de sua esposa, não lhe dizem que é melhor fechar os olhos à evidência. Não consigo ver a razão pela qual ignorar as evidências deveria ser desprezível em um caso e admirável no outro.

For my part, I prefer the ontological argument, the cosmological argument and the rest of the old stock-in-trade, to the sentimental illogicality that has sprung from Rousseau.

Ethics is in origin the art of recommending to others the sacrifices required for cooperation with oneself.

If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have a paradise in a few years.

Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty-a beauty cold and austere ... yet sublimely pure and capable of stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show.

Politics is largely governed by sententious platitudes which are devoid of truth

There are infinite possibilities of error, and more cranks take up fashionable untruths than unfashionable truths.

It is not by delusion, however exalted, that mankind can prosper, but only by unswerving courage in the pursuit of truth.

Morally, a philosopher who uses his professional competence for anything except a disinterested search for truth is guilty of a kind of treachery.

As a lover of truth, the national propaganda of all the belligerent nations sickened me. As a lover of civilization, the return to barbarism appalled me.

Education ought to foster the wish for truth, not the conviction that some particular creed is the truth.

Sin is geographical.

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.