 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
When anaesthetics were discovered, pious people considered them an attempt to evade the will of God. It was pointed out, however, that when God extracted Adam's rib He put him into a deep sleep. This proved that anaesthetics are all right for men; women, however, ought to suffer, because of the curse of Eve. In the West votes for women proved this doctrine mistaken, but in Japan, to this day, women in childbirth are not allowed any alleviation through anaesthetics. As the Japanese do not believe in Genesis, this piece of sadism must have some other justification.
Source: An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish, 1943, by Bertrand Russell
Reprinted in : Unpopular Essays, 1950
More info.: https://russell-j.com/0811OIR.HTM