"Russell observes that "the merits of democracy are negative: it does not ensure good government, but it prevents certain evils," such as the evil of a small group of individuals achieving a secure monopoly on political power. The chief peril for the politician, Russell insists, is love of power. And politicians can easily yield to the love of power on the pretense that they are pursuing some absolute good."

Politics, Democracy, Power, Corruption

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"Russell observes that "the merits of democracy are negative: it does not ensure good government, but it prevents certain evils," such as the evil of a small group of individuals achieving a secure monopoly on political power. The chief peril for the politician, Russell insists, is love of power. And politicians can easily yield to the love of power on the pretense that they are pursuing some absolute good."

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"Experience is in the fingers and the head. The heart is inexperienced."

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"And they that rule in England, in stately conclaves met, alas, alas for England they have no graves as yet."

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"Political or military commentators, like astrologers, can survive almost any mistake, because their more devoted followers do not look to them for an appraisal of the facts but for the stimulation of nationalistic loyalties."

George Orwell, British Author

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Explore more quotes by Bertrand Russell

"War grows out of ordinary human nature."

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"Whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities."

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"Many people when they fall in love look for a little haven of refuge from the world, where they can be sure of being admired when they are not admirable, and praised when they are not praiseworthy."

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"The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge."

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"We have two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do not practice and the other which we practice but seldom preach."

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"In the Second World War he took no public part, having escaped to a neutral country just before its outbreak. In private conversation he was wont to say that homicidal lunatics were well employed in killing each other, but that sensible men would keep out of their way while they were doing it. Fortunately this outlook, which is reminiscent of Bentham, has become rare in this age, which recognizes that heroism has a value independent of its utility. The Last Survivor of a Dead Epoch."

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"Mathematics possesses not only truth but supreme beauty - a beauty cold and austere like that of a sculpture."

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"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

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"Man needs, for his happiness, not only the enjoyment of this or that, but hope and enterprise and change."

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