Bertrand Russell

One should respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, read more

One should 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

Most people would rather die than think;
in fact, they do so.

Most people would rather die than think;
in fact, they do so.

Reason is a harmonizing, controlling force rather than a creative one.

Reason is a harmonizing, controlling force rather than a creative one.

I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.

I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.

Every advance in civilization has been denounced as unnatural while it was recent.

Every advance in civilization has been denounced as unnatural while it was recent.