 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
It is better to do nothing than to do harm. Half the useful work in the world consists of combating the harmful work. A little time spent in learning to appreciate facts is not time wasted, and the work that will be done afterwards is far less likely to be harmful than the work done by those who need a continual inflation of their ego as a stimulant to their energy.
Source: Bertrand Russell: he Conquest of Happiness, 1930, chap.16:Effort and resignation.
More info.:https://russell-j.com/beginner/HA27-060.HTM
* a brief comment, Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
In everything, it is important to know the facts before doing a thing (or judging something) and to assess (weight) them properly. However, those in power seem to be able to 'skip' that tiresome effort. They are always careful not to show weakness, because if they appear weak, they may be yanked out of posts where they can wield power at any moment. Powerful people need to keep their followers in fear of what they might do to them if they take themselves lightly. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)