 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
It is a dangerous error to confound truth with matter-of-fact. Our life is governed not only by facts, but by hopes ; the kind of truthfulness which sees nothing but facts is a prison for the human spirit. Dreams are only to be condemned when they are a lazy substitute for an effort to change reality.
Source: Bertrand Russell: On Education, especially in early childhood, 1926, Pt. 2： Education of character, chap. 5: Play and fancy
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The present exists because of the past, but humans also have a desire not to be bound by the past. Usually, people quickly judge (or calculate), ‘Which option is the most convenient for me?’ The same individuals may sometimes say, ‘Let’s focus on the future’ or ‘Let’s think positively,’ while at other times they might say, ‘Let’s face the facts and avoid repeating past mistakes,’ or ‘Learn from the past to discover new insights!’
Children tend to live in their dreams, while adults inevitably live in reality. However, since politicians are in a position where they must implement policies, those who talk too much about dreams often come across as unreliable or untrustworthy. Of course, authoritarian politicians are also a nuisance for many citizens. What type of politician do you think Prime Minister Ishiba would be?
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