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A THREAD on thought provoking ideas by Bertrand Russell:
1/
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 paradise in a few years.
1/
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 paradise in a few years.
2/
The secret of happiness is this: let your interest be as wide as possible and let your reactions to the things and persons who interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile.
The secret of happiness is this: let your interest be as wide as possible and let your reactions to the things and persons who interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile.
3/
Anything you're good at contributes to happiness.
Anything you're good at contributes to happiness.
4/
The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
5/
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
6/
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
7/
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty.
To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty.
To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
8/
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.
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.
9/
To teach how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy, in our age, can still do for those who study it.
To teach how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy, in our age, can still do for those who study it.
10/
Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so.
Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so.
11/
We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power.
We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power.
12/
Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.
Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.
13/
It has been said that man is a rational animal.
All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.
It has been said that man is a rational animal.
All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.
14/
It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.
It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.
15/
Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin, more even than death.
Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habits; thought is anarchic...
Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin, more even than death.
Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habits; thought is anarchic...
...and lawless, indifferent to authority, careless of the well-tried wisdom of the ages.
Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid ...
Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.
Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid ...
Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.
16/
One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways.
One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways.
17/
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own.
18/
The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution.
The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution.
19/
In this world, which is getting more and more closely interconnected, we have to learn to tolerate each other, we have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things that we don't like.
We can only live together in that way.
In this world, which is getting more and more closely interconnected, we have to learn to tolerate each other, we have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things that we don't like.
We can only live together in that way.
20/
When you want to teach children to think, you begin by treating them seriously when they are little, giving them responsibilities, talking to them candidly, providing privacy and solitude for them, and making them...
When you want to teach children to think, you begin by treating them seriously when they are little, giving them responsibilities, talking to them candidly, providing privacy and solitude for them, and making them...
...readers and thinkers of significant thoughts from the beginning.
That’s if you want to teach them to think.
That’s if you want to teach them to think.
