The quotations of

Bertrand Russell

British philosopher and logician

1872–1970

105 quotes, most often on Anti-Religion, Philosophy and Thinking. Part of the Philosophers collection.

I do not think that the real reason why people accept religion is anything to do with argumentation. They accept religion on emotional grounds. One is often told that it is a very wrong thing to attack religion, because religion makes men virtuous. So I am told; I have not noticed it.
Why I Am Not a Christian (1927), “The Emotional Factor”
- Anti-Religion
What a man believes upon grossly insufficient evidence is an index into his desires⁠—desires of which he himself is often unconscious. If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.
Proposed Roads To Freedom (1918), Ch. VI: International relations, p. 97
- Anti-Religion
I regard [religion] as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race.
Has Religion Made Useful Contributions to Civilization? (1930)
- Anti-Religion
The hopes which inspire communism are, in the main, as admirable as those instilled by the Sermon on the Mount, but they are held as fanatically and are as likely to do as much harm.
The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism (1920), Part I, The Present Condition of Russia, Ch. 1: What Is Hoped From Bolshevism
- Anti-Religion
- Politics
I am as firmly convinced that religions do harm as I am that they are untrue.
Why I Am Not a Christian (1927)
- Anti-Religion
The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell.
Sceptical Essays (1928), Ch. 1: The Value of Scepticism
- Anti-Religion
- Morality
There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment.
Why I Am Not a Christian (1927), “The Moral Problem”
- Anti-Religion
- Christianity
Christianity offers reasons for not fearing death or the universe, and in so doing it fails to teach adequately the virtue of courage.
Education and the Social Order (1932), p. 107
In so far as religion makes its appeal to fear, it is lowering to human dignity.
Education and the Social Order (1932), p. 107
- Anti-Religion
- Fear
A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past, or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.
Why I Am Not a Christian (1927)
- Anti-Religion
- Knowledge

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