“We have in fact, two kinds of morality, side by side: one which we preach, but do not practice, and another which we practice, but seldom preach.”
Author: Bertrand Russell
Topic:
Other languages
“I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.”
Author: Bertrand Russell
Topic:
Other languages
A Liberal Decalogue: The Ten Commandments
Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it. The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:
1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
Other languages
2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
Other languages
3. Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
Other languages
4. When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavour to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
Other languages
5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
Other languages
6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
Other languages
7. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
Other languages
8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent that in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
Other languages
9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
Other languages
10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.
Other languages