Bertrand Russell Quote

"Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure consists in preventing others from enjoying themselves, or, more generally, in the acquisition of power. Consequently those who live under the dominion of Puritanism become exceedingly desirous of power. Now love of power does far more harm than love of drink or any of the other vices against which Puritans protest. Of course, in virtuous people love of power camouflages itself as love of doing good, but this makes very little difference to its social effects. It merely means that we punish our victims for being wicked, instead of for being our enemies. In either case, tyranny and war result. Moral indignation is one of the most harmful forces in the modern world, the more so as it can always be diverted to sinister uses by those who control propaganda."

by:	Bertrand Russell [Bertrand Arthur William Russell] (1872-1970) Philosopher, educator
Source:	The Recrudescence of Puritanism, in Sceptical Essays, 1928 http://www.panarchy.org/russell/puritanism.html
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Categories:	Control, Prevention, Power, Prohibition, Vice, Punishment, Happiness, Morality, Oppression, Propaganda
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Spoken like a true progressive patron of the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land. They don't / they can't understand the joy that comes from serving others. That love and charity is not within them.  -- Mike, Norwalk      1
Moral Tyranny does not serve anyone but the Tyrant.  -- Jim G, Colorado Springs
For which we are seeing the results of today in the UK and the USA — all secretly planned by those wanting chaos in Europe and the Middle East. Chaos in the UK and Middle East keeps the petrodollar flowing and the MIC funded with $trillions. If MN new this mans history, the last thing you could ever call BR was a progressive patron of the occupying statist theocracy.  -- Robert Edwards, somewhere in the USA      1
Robert, the thing I remember in high school was his push for world government under socialism. His stand on pacifism was unique to say the least. He thought preemptive nuclear war was ok as long as his side was the only one with the button — and then he was anti-nuclear. I really like his antiwar and anti-imperialism stance and courage to stand for it.  -- Mike, Norwalk
Promoting a reprobate life style, embracing a OWG as the cure all. truely a patron of globalist statist theocracy. Yet there is much truth to his observation on the surface.   -- Ronw13, OR
Socialism IS Puritanism!  The same premise, the same tactics, the same self-righteousness.  It never ceases to amaze me to see rabid leftists professing the same virtues as Christianity all the while trying to tear down religious association.  Russel is right, it is power they all seek, for moral reasons.  5 stars for the truth of it.  -- E Archer, NYC      1
-- jim k, Austin

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