 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
One is frequently assured by men who have no doubt of their own wisdom that old age should bring serenity and a larger vision in which seeming evils are viewed as means to ultimate good. I cannot accept any such view. Serenity, in the present world, can only be achieved through blindness or brutality. Unlike what is conventionally expected, I become more and more of a rebel.
Source： The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, v.3, 1969, pp.134-135. (Pros and Cons of Reaching Ninety. In: The Observer, Ma 15, 1962)
More info.:
* a brief comment
As people get older and are no longer as active in society as they were in their prime years, or as they retire and live on a pension, many become more conservative and less assertive, at least ‘in public’. It is good to ‘look to the young’ and not be so ‘outspoken’ when you get older, but it is also true that busy people in their prime do not have the time to be considerate of others and the vulnerable. It must be valuable for old people, who have a lot of time on their hands and can look at the world dispassionately, to stand in the shoes of the weak and keep talking to them. Still, is there a stronger desire to be thought of as a good old man (or a ‘gentle old lady’)?
* Amazon Gift Card
