"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom"

Fear is a fundamental emotion, deeply rooted in the human psyche, often preceding rational analysis or thoughtful reflection. Bertrand Russell’s observation highlights the powerful influence fear wields over human belief and behavior. Superstition, a belief in supernatural causality, omens, or rituals, arises most often from uncertainty and the desire for control in an unpredictable world. Human beings have historically turned to superstitions as a way to manage fears that logic or evidence could not assuage: the fear of death, disease, misfortune, or the unknown. When knowledge fails to provide comfort, fear fills the gap, and superstition takes hold.

Yet fear does not only breed superstition; it can also fuel cruelty. People who are afraid may lash out against what they do not understand, seeking a sense of power over their own vulnerability by targeting others. Fear of difference, whether of race, creed, or custom, can lead to prejudice and persecution. Leaders can manipulate collective fears to justify acts of cruelty, to create scapegoats, or to enforce power through violence. In both private and public life, fear can erode empathy and stoke aggression, transforming otherwise ordinary individuals into agents of harm.

The path to wisdom, Russell contends, begins with mastering fear. When fear is conquered, superstition loses its grip, and cruelty becomes unnecessary, unfounded, and unattractive. Wisdom emerges not merely as the accumulation of knowledge, but as a calmness and clarity undisturbed by primal anxieties. A wise person confronts uncertainties with curiosity instead of dread, addresses threats with measured reason instead of panic, and faces the unknown with equanimity instead of retreat. Overcoming fear opens the mind to learning and compassion by dissolving the barriers that impede understanding. Only through this inner victory over fear does true wisdom, reflective, humane, and unshackled, become possible.