Bertrand Russell Thoughts

"The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:

• Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
• Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
• Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
• When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
• Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
• Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
• Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
• Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
• Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
• 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."