"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite"

Bertrand Russell's quote recommends that the pursuit of joy is a complex and subjective matter. He has actually discovered that when he speaks to a sage, or a person of fantastic understanding, he feels that happiness is no longer a possibility. This could be due to the fact that the savant has a higher understanding of the world and its complexities, and therefore has a more pessimistic outlook on life. On the other hand, when he talks with his gardener, he is convinced that joy is still possible. This could be because the garden enthusiast has a more simplified view of the world, and is therefore more positive. Russell's quote implies that joy is a matter of perspective, and that it is possible to find it in different methods.