It seems to be the fate of idealists to obtain what they have struggled for in a form which destroys their ideals.

Quote by Bertrand Russell

Topics: Bertrand Russell Quotes

All human activity is prompted by desire

All human activity is prompted by desire

Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely...

Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely...

Men who are unhappy, like men who sleep badly, are always proud of the fact.

Men who are unhappy, like men who sleep badly, are always proud of the fact.

Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not...

Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not...

By religion I mean a set of beliefs held as dogmas, dominating the conduct of...

By religion I mean a set of beliefs held as dogmas, dominating the conduct of...

Civilized people cannot fully satisfy their sexual instinct without love

Civilized people cannot fully satisfy their sexual instinct without love

For over two thousand years it has been the custom among earnest moralists to decry...

For over two thousand years it has been the custom among earnest moralists to decry...

When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also add that some...

When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also add that some...

If today were a fish I'd throw it back

If today were a fish I'd throw it back

Young men and young women meet each other with much less difficulty than was formerly...

Young men and young women meet each other with much less difficulty than was formerly...

Most political leaders acquire their position by causing large numbers of people to believe that...

Most political leaders acquire their position by causing large numbers of people to believe that...

Control your emotion or it will control you

Control your emotion or it will control you

An ethical person ought to do more than he's required to do and less than...

An ethical person ought to do more than he's required to do and less than...

No man can be a good teacher unless he has feelings of warm affection toward...

No man can be a good teacher unless he has feelings of warm affection toward...

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Those who forget good and evil and seek only to know the facts are more...

Those who forget good and evil and seek only to know the facts are more...

The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one,...

The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one,...

Morally, a philosopher who uses his professional competence for anything except a disinterested search for...

Morally, a philosopher who uses his professional competence for anything except a disinterested search for...

Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent...

Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent...