The great philosopher’s wisdom condensed into ten solid principles on
which to live your life
Published
in 1951 as part of an article on liberalism for The New York Times Magazine,
the ten rules dictate Russell’s guidelines that he, as a teacher, believed he
should advocate. Although the rules ostensibly relate to rules for teaching,
they really can be said to be, in the broadest sense, rules for living well.
1. Do not
feel absolutely certain of anything.
2. Do not
think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is
sure to come to light.
3. Never
try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
4. When you
meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children,
endeavour to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory
dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
5. Have no
respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities
to be found.
6. Do not
use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions
will suppress you.
7. Do not
fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once
eccentric.
8. Find
more pleasure in intelligent dissent that in passive agreement, for, if you
value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than
the latter.
9. Be
scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more
inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
