The words of Russell - arguably the coolest philosopher of our time

Earlier this morning, struggling from the last remnants of sleep, I went online like any other day. I came across some writings from Betrand Russell. Somehow I forgot I read a fair bit of Russell once in my life and I enjoyed it tremendously. Here's one passage that I have shared with few loved ones.. they know who they are.



Three passions have governed my life: The longings for love, the search for knowledge, And unbearable pity for the suffering of humanity.

Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness. In the union of love I have seen In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.

With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of [people]. I have wished to know why the stars shine.Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens, But always pity brought me back to earth; Cries of pain reverberated in my heart Of children in famine, of victims tortured And of old people left helpless. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, And I too suffer.

This has been my life; I found it worth living.

I never fail to feel good each time I read these lines.

And in another one,

If throughout your life you abstain from murder, theft, fornication, perjury, blasphemy, and disrespect towards your parents, your Church, and your king, you are conventionally held to deserve moral admiration even if you have never done a single kind or generous or useful action. This very inadequate notion of virtue is an outcome of tabu morality, and has done untold harm.

Each time I read Russell, I find myself starting all over again. The importance of doing good and why it matters to others and also personally to my growth. Being kind and having goodness in your heart. I like to think I'll shape my life on such values and morals. Such conviction.  


Then one thought led to another. I am somewhat reminded about what Ernest Hemingway once said.. something about write the truest thing you know. I struggled with this a lot. While part of me aspires to do just that, the other half of me simply lacks the confidence and clarity needed to perform such a formidable task. And here I honestly say that I don't write beautifully, or even with much depth. My words are simple and in many ways, the emotions running through it all too familiar.

And it is a huge responsibility to write the truth. I see it as a privilege. Writing about what it true is not so much about the need to preserve a portion of one's history or memory of things. I have always thought memories are mostly reinventions. To me, this whole writing the truest thing I know is about me finding the words that best express those events and the truth they give me. I write about them because to me they matter to me, not anyone else. This I realised is not an easy process. I still endeavor to lead such a life although I know attaining it is as elusive as it gets. Regardless I keep these words close to my heart and on days when the world around me seems nauseating, I think of them and know that somehow they can make me feel slightly better. These words, although not mine, will continue to live on even after I ceased to be and my ashes becomes tiny speckles on this red red earth. For now, they inspire me.