The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy—I mean that if you are happy you will be good.

About Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970), was an English mathematician and philosopher. A founder of analytic philosophy, he was a leading philosopher of the 20th century who produced pioneering work in logic, set theory, and philosophy of language. Russell popularised philosophy to...

More quotations from Bertrand Russell

Men who are unhappy, like men who sleep badly, are always proud of the fact.

—Bertrand Russell

pride sleep unhappy

All movements go too far.

—Bertrand Russell

politics movement

The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way.

—Bertrand Russell

Every man, wherever he goes, is encompassed by a cloud of comforting convictions, which move with him like flies on a summer day.

—Bertrand Russell

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd.

—Bertrand Russell

More quotations tagged with “good”

Because life is like that, isn't it? If you thought of all the tiny things that divert your path one way or another, some good, some bad, you'd never do anything ever again. And some people don't. Some people go through life not really deciding to do much, not wanting to, always too fearful of the consequences to try something new. Of course, that in itself is also a decision.

—Jenny Colgan in The Bookshop on the Corner

life good consequences deciding

I can't seem to be a pessimist long enough to overlook the possibility of things being overwhelmingly good.

—John Corey Whaley in Where Things Come Back

pessimism good possibility

Sometimes the risk of what bad things could happen keeps us from experiencing all the good things life has to offer.

—Vi Keeland in Rebel Heir

life risk bad good

I believe in the inherent good of people. I believe that someone can make a mistake and live to redeem themselves another day.

—Carsen Taite in Beyond Innocence

mistakes people good redemption

If you haven't already, you will lose someone you can't live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and you never completely get over the loss of a deeply beloved person. But this is also good news. The person lives forever, in your broken heart that doesn't seal back up. And you come through, and you learn to dance with the banged-up heart.

—Anne Lamott in Plan B

love good loss broken hearted

History

1 Nov 2019 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy - I mean that if you are happy you will be good.