Quote Of The Day By Bertrand Russell: 'Through The Greatness Of The Universe Which...'

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There are many ways in which you might be familiar with Bertrand Russell. Some know him as a famous anti-war protester; others as the winner of the 1950 Nobel Prize for Literature. And yet, plenty of people also consider Russell one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. Over the course of his life, Russell published roughly 2,000 articles and around 70 books. And, through this writing, he changed the course of philosophy itself. Born in 1872 in Trelleck, Monmouthshire, Wales, Russell was young when he discovered his love of mathematics. He went on to study it at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and there, he discovered philosophy. 

Russell published his first major political text, "German Social Democracy," and his first philosophy book, "An Essay on the Foundations of Geometry," within a year of each other. Russell spoke out passionately against war, which often landed him in trouble. He even spent six months in prison for writing a pro-peace article. Philosophy clearly informed everything Russell did over the course of his accomplished life. Notably, he believed deep thinking and philosophizing were the only way to be truly free in our world. That's why Russell's belief about philosophy gave us today's quote of the day. 

"Through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind is also rendered great," Bertrand Russell wrote in the final chapter of his acclaimed 1912 book, "The Problems of Philosophy." This quote highlights why the Welshman found philosophy so important in life; he believed that philosophical thought was the path to understanding the world around you. 

Even with all of life's uncertainties, we should still continue seeking out answers and deeper understanding. From Russell's perspective, it's only by consistently and actively considering everything around us, including what we don't understand and may never truly comprehend, that we can continue to keep our curiosity alive, which is vital when it comes to being alive.

When we consider why we are here and what it means to exist, it unites us with the world around us. Philosophical thought keeps us from being too focused on ourselves. As a child, Bertrand Russell led an isolated life, which changed only when he went to college. There, he discovered his love of philosophy, which opened up the Welshman's world. Despite lacking social interaction growing up, he became an adult who cared deeply about other people — so much so that he often put himself at risk to defend others. All that Russell wrote and all that he did in his life shows that he was driven by philosophy, crediting it with becoming someone who was unified with the world around him. 

These days, we are more isolated than ever. Third spaces are vanishing, community is increasingly breaking down, and we are finding ourselves having fewer interactions with other people in real life. As we feel the effects of a profoundly isolating society, it can be easier than ever to get stuck in our own heads and forget about unifying with our world. But this only creates further division, which separates us from the people and the universe around us. Philosophy can help reconnect us to the point of it all, why we're all here, and why it's vital to unite and fight the things that threaten us all, just like Russell did.

• "It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this."
• "Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric."
• "Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong have governed my life: The longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind."
• "Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."
• "One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."