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Bertrand Russell

Quote of Bertrand Russell - The fact that an opinion has...


Biography - Bertrand Russell:

British philosopher, logician and mathematician.
Born: 1872 - Died: 1970
Period:
20th century
19th century
Place of birth: United Kingdom
United Kingdom

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.



Translation

Translation

(French)



French
Le fait qu'une opinion est largement tenue ne prouve en rien qu'elle ne soit pas complètement absurde. Et même, vu la bêtise de la plupart des hommes, une opinion largement répandue a plus de chances d'être sotte que sensée.




See also 

See also...



Even if everyone agrees, everyone can be wrong.




Quotes for: opinion


Quotes

Quotes for: opinion


Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.





I think my opinions are good and sound, but who does not think the same of his own?





Though men be much governed by interest; yet even interest itself, and all human affairs, are entirely governed by opinion.





Good sense is, of all things among men, the most equally distributed; for every one thinks himself so abundantly provided with it, that those even who are the most difficult to satisfy in everything else, do not usually desire a larger measure of this quality than they already possess. And in this it is not likely that all are mistaken: the conviction is rather to be held as testifying that the power of judging aright and of distinguishing truth from error, which is properly what is called good sense or reason, is by nature equal in all men; and that the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects. For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it.





Article X – No one may be disturbed for his opinions, even religious ones, provided that their manifestation does not trouble the public order established by the law.





Article XI – The free communication of thoughts and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man: any citizen thus may speak, write, print freely, except to respond to the abuse of this liberty, in the cases determined by the law.











Quotes for: absurd


Quotes

Quotes for: absurd


Whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities.





Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.





Absurd is lucid reason noting its limits.





Whatsoever is contrary to nature is contrary to reason, and whatsoever is contrary to reason is absurd.





Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.





The absurd is born of the confrontation between the human call and the unreasonable silence of the world.











Quotes

Bertrand Russell also said...


Whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities.





To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.





Humankind has become so much one family that we cannot ensure our own prosperity except by ensuring that of everyone else. If you wish to be happy yourself, you must resign yourself to seeing others also happy.





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





The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.





To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.












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