"Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so"
- Bertrand Russell
About this Quote
This quote by Bertrand Russell is a commentary on the human tendency to prevent hard or uneasy ideas. He suggests that many people would rather die than believe, implying that they would rather prevent challenging or uncomfortable thoughts than challenge them. This might be interpreted as a criticism of the human propensity to prevent challenging or unpleasant ideas, as Russell implies that this avoidance can be destructive to our wellness. He also suggests that this avoidance can be so strong that it can result in death, either actually or figuratively. This could be interpreted as an alerting to be mindful of our ideas and to face hard or uneasy thoughts instead of preventing them. Eventually, this quote acts as a suggestion to be conscious of our thoughts and to confront tough or uncomfortable ideas instead of avoiding them.