Quote

Science seems to be at war with itself.... Naive realism leads to physics, and physics, if true, shows naive realism to be false. Therefore naive realism, if true, is false therefore it is false.

Bertrand Russell

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Bertrand Russell
Age: 97 †
Born: 1872
Born: May 18
Died: 1970
Died: February 2
Analytic Philosopher
Autobiographer
Epistemologist
Essayist
Journalist
Logician
Mathematician
Metaphysician
Peace Activist
Philosopher
Tryleg
Bertrand Arthur William Russell
Russell
Bertrand Russell
3rd Earl Russell
Bertrand Russell
Earl Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell
3rd Earl Russell
Reality
Leads
Seems
False
Therefore
Technology
War
Science
Realism
Shows
Naive
True
Physics

More quotes by Bertrand Russell

Image
The sentiments of an adult are compounded of a kernel of instinct surrounded by a vast husk of education.
Bertrand Russell
Image
Boys and young men acquire readily the moral sentiments of their social milieu, whatever these sentiments may be.
Bertrand Russell
Image
A physicist looks for causes that does not necessarily imply that there are causes everywhere. A man may look for gold without assuming that there is gold everywhere if he finds gold, well and good, if he doesn't he's had bad luck. The same is true when the physicists look for causes.
Bertrand Russell
Image
Righteousness cannot be born until self-righteousness is dead.
Bertrand Russell
Image
In detective stories . . . I alternately identify myself with the murderer and the huntsman-detective, but . . . there are those to which this vicarious outlet is too mild.
Bertrand Russell
Image
What has human happiness to do with morals? The object of morals is not to make people happy.
Bertrand Russell
Image
You are a wicked motorcar, and I shall not give you any more petrol until you go.
Bertrand Russell
Image
A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.
Bertrand Russell
Image
What the world needs is not dogma but an attitude of scientific inquiry.
Bertrand Russell
Image
A generation educated in fearless freedom will have wider and bolder hopes than are possible to us
Bertrand Russell
Image
The essence of education is that it is a change effected in the organism to satisfy the operator.
Bertrand Russell
Image
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which number holds sway about the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.
Bertrand Russell
Image
A widespread belief is more often likely to be foolish than sensible.
Bertrand Russell
Image
I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to include every influence of past experience on present reactions.
Bertrand Russell
Image
The moral thing I should wish to say to them is very simple I should say: Love is wise - Hatred is foolish. In this world, which is getting more and more closely interconnected, we have to learn to tolerate each other.
Bertrand Russell
Image
How much longer is the world willing to endure this spectacle of wanton cruelty?
Bertrand Russell
Image
No one gossips about other people's secret virtues.
Bertrand Russell
Image
Punctuality is a quality the need of which is bound up with social co-operation.
Bertrand Russell
Image
Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that is happiness.
Bertrand Russell
Image
I went to Salt Lake City and the Mormons tried to convert me, but when I found they forbade tea and tobacco I thought it was no religion for me.
Bertrand Russell