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夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屬嗀з呝� 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘賴 賯賱賲 禺賵丿卮
"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge & the unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither & thither...over a deep ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair."-- Bertrand Russell
Champion of intellectual, social & sexual freedom, campaigner for peace, for civil & human rights, Russell remains one of the greatest & most complex controversial figures of the 20th century. His childhood, bitterly lonely, was rich in experience. His adulthood was spent grappling with both his own beliefs & the problems of the universe & humankind, & the pursuit of love & permanent happiness which resulted in five marriages. This new edition of his Autobiography, shares a life of incredible variety, & is told with vigor, charm & total frankness.
Volume 1, 1872-1914: Little Brown & Company 1967
Volume 2, 1914-44: Little Brown & Company 1968
Volume 3, 1944-69: Simon & Schuster 1969
Champion of intellectual, social & sexual freedom, campaigner for peace, for civil & human rights, Russell remains one of the greatest & most complex controversial figures of the 20th century. His childhood, bitterly lonely, was rich in experience. His adulthood was spent grappling with both his own beliefs & the problems of the universe & humankind, & the pursuit of love & permanent happiness which resulted in five marriages. This new edition of his Autobiography, shares a life of incredible variety, & is told with vigor, charm & total frankness.
Volume 1, 1872-1914: Little Brown & Company 1967
Volume 2, 1914-44: Little Brown & Company 1968
Volume 3, 1944-69: Simon & Schuster 1969
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1951
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5818 people want to read
About the author
Bertrand Russell
1,002听books7,133听followersBertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS, was a Welsh philosopher, historian, logician, mathematician, advocate for social reform, pacifist, and prominent rationalist. Although he was usually regarded as English, as he spent the majority of his life in England, he was born in Wales, where he also died.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."
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May 13, 2025
I was seventeen when the first volume - of the first edition - of this towering classic was released. I was Mesmerized - and DEVOURED it.
And it had a HUGE impact on my thinking.
At about the same time, during March Break, I discovered the poetry of T.S. Eliot in my parents鈥� library. Same thing - and another PIVOTAL moment.
So unlike Russell in temperament but Equally significant in my life.
I would become a young man riding two horses simultaneously - no mean feat, and potentially fatal!
But then I learned the two men were fast friends.
At Harvard in its Glory Days before WWI, Russell was a visiting Philosophy professor. Eliot was his star undergrad student.
The Englishman was a hard-headed Empiricist, but the American, Eliot, was an imaginative Idealist. However, Russell had locked horns aggressively with British Idealists, and publicly humiliated them.
But Eliot remained a very good friend.
Why?
Simple.
They were both Puritans.
In the infamous first edition of his autobiography, in a section since expurgated, Russell publicly revealed that his young bride, Alys, his first wife, unsuccessfully tried to convince him to be an apostle of Free Love - as she proved to be.
Russell was appalled. He refused forthwith to have any more contact with her. They later divorced.
It was the critical and highly stressful period of the writing of the Principia Mathematica, a time of near-nervous collapse for Russell - his Dark Night of the Soul.
THEY espouse Free Love; WE advise self-control. Know where to draw the line! Good, wholesome living needs nothing more. We can find our releases in any number of other ways.
Russell finally found a modicum of release in the hard work of building a better world.
For he was one of the key architects of the post-war solution to the inveterate b锚te noires of humanity: he believed the panaceas to be science, social progress and universal mental hygiene.
And while Eliot was finding release from his devils in Anglo-Catholic Faith, Russell escaped HIS, in Utopianism. And also in silence (more about that in a few seconds).
But they remained friends for life.
Because they were both puritanical Blood Brothers!
Now, Puritanism seems pretty strait-laced, but both Russell and I share the same escape. In his world-famous essay In Praise of Idleness (available free online), he touts the salubriousness of lengthy, habitual periods of DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
Works like a charm, as Brother Steindl-Rast and all meditators find. It replenishes our Spirit within!
However, the dichotomy Puritanism reveals is irreconcilable, save through the faiths we practise.
And Life, unfortunately, is often a Struggle - but it鈥檚 still Good. The Spirit makes it so!
Because if you forever 鈥榳alk on with hope in your heart, you鈥檒l NEVER walk Alone...鈥�
For the joy of life is found in the love and light of the Spirit, and the encouragement our lifelong friends bring to our souls.
As Goethe said, 鈥渓et no one lose heart who has those!鈥�
And it had a HUGE impact on my thinking.
At about the same time, during March Break, I discovered the poetry of T.S. Eliot in my parents鈥� library. Same thing - and another PIVOTAL moment.
So unlike Russell in temperament but Equally significant in my life.
I would become a young man riding two horses simultaneously - no mean feat, and potentially fatal!
But then I learned the two men were fast friends.
At Harvard in its Glory Days before WWI, Russell was a visiting Philosophy professor. Eliot was his star undergrad student.
The Englishman was a hard-headed Empiricist, but the American, Eliot, was an imaginative Idealist. However, Russell had locked horns aggressively with British Idealists, and publicly humiliated them.
But Eliot remained a very good friend.
Why?
Simple.
They were both Puritans.
In the infamous first edition of his autobiography, in a section since expurgated, Russell publicly revealed that his young bride, Alys, his first wife, unsuccessfully tried to convince him to be an apostle of Free Love - as she proved to be.
Russell was appalled. He refused forthwith to have any more contact with her. They later divorced.
It was the critical and highly stressful period of the writing of the Principia Mathematica, a time of near-nervous collapse for Russell - his Dark Night of the Soul.
THEY espouse Free Love; WE advise self-control. Know where to draw the line! Good, wholesome living needs nothing more. We can find our releases in any number of other ways.
Russell finally found a modicum of release in the hard work of building a better world.
For he was one of the key architects of the post-war solution to the inveterate b锚te noires of humanity: he believed the panaceas to be science, social progress and universal mental hygiene.
And while Eliot was finding release from his devils in Anglo-Catholic Faith, Russell escaped HIS, in Utopianism. And also in silence (more about that in a few seconds).
But they remained friends for life.
Because they were both puritanical Blood Brothers!
Now, Puritanism seems pretty strait-laced, but both Russell and I share the same escape. In his world-famous essay In Praise of Idleness (available free online), he touts the salubriousness of lengthy, habitual periods of DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
Works like a charm, as Brother Steindl-Rast and all meditators find. It replenishes our Spirit within!
However, the dichotomy Puritanism reveals is irreconcilable, save through the faiths we practise.
And Life, unfortunately, is often a Struggle - but it鈥檚 still Good. The Spirit makes it so!
Because if you forever 鈥榳alk on with hope in your heart, you鈥檒l NEVER walk Alone...鈥�
For the joy of life is found in the love and light of the Spirit, and the encouragement our lifelong friends bring to our souls.
As Goethe said, 鈥渓et no one lose heart who has those!鈥�
January 17, 2022
The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, Bertrand Russell
The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell (1967鈥�1969) is a three-volume work by Bertrand Russell.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 趩賴丕乇賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱1976賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮乇丨 丨丕賱 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘賯賱賲 禺賵丿卮貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲爻毓賵丿 丕賳氐丕乇蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 賮乇賵睾蹖貙 噩賱丿 賳禺爻鬲 丿乇 爻丕賱1346貙 丿乇394氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 卮乇丨 丨丕賱 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘賯賱賲 禺賵丿卮 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 亘乇蹖鬲丕賳蹖丕 - 爻丿賴20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮乇丨 丨丕賱 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘賯賱賲 禺賵丿卮貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕丨賲丿 亘蹖乇卮讴貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 禺賵丕乇夭賲蹖貙 爻丕賱1377貙 丿乇1162氐貨
賮賴乇爻鬲: 亘賴 丕丿蹖鬲 氐12貙 賵13貨 亘乇丕蹖 趩賴 夭蹖爻鬲賴 丕賲 氐14貨 亘趩诏蹖 氐17貨 賳賵噩賵丕賳蹖 氐54貨 讴蹖賲亘乇蹖噩 氐85貨 賳丕賲夭丿蹖 氐114貨 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 夭賳丕卮賵蹖蹖 氐197貨 倬乇蹖賳讴蹖倬蹖丕 賲丕鬲丕賲丕鬲蹖讴丕 氐230貨 亘丕夭 賴賲 讴蹖賲亘乇蹖噩 氐326貨 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 鬲丕 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 倬乇爻鬲卮诏丕賴 丌賱賵丿賴貙 氐369貨 噩賳诏 丕賵賱 氐370貨 乇賵爻蹖賴 氐510貨 趩蹖賳 氐555貨 丿賵賲蹖賳 夭賳丕卮賵蹖蹖 氐597貨 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 亘毓丿蹖 鬲賱诏乇丕賮 賴丕賵爻 氐666貨 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 爻丕賱1938賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 鬲丕 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 氐712貨 倬蹖卮诏賮鬲丕乇 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 鬲丕 爻丕賱1967賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貨 氐785貨 亘丕夭诏卮鬲 亘賴 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 氐787貨 丿乇 賲蹖賴賳 賵 禺丕乇噩 丕夭 賲蹖賴賳 氐867貨 賲蹖丿丕賳 鬲乇丕賮丕賱诏丕乇 氐927貨 亘賳蹖丕丿 氐1013貨 亘毓丿 丕夭 鬲丨乇蹖乇 氐1125貨 賮賴乇爻鬲 乇丕賴賳賲丕 氐1131貨
賮賴乇爻鬲 讴鬲丕亘: 夭賳丿诏蹖 賳丕賲賴貨 丌孬丕乇貨 丿賲賵讴乇丕爻蹖 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖貨 賮賱爻賮賴 賱丕蹖亘賳蹖爻貨 丕氐賵賱 乇蹖丕囟蹖丕鬲貨 賲賯丿賲賴 丕蹖 亘乇 賮賱爻賮賴 乇蹖丕囟蹖貙 賵...貨
亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 丌乇鬲賵乇 賵蹖賱蹖丕賲 乇丕爻賱貙 爻賵賲蹖賳 芦丕乇賱 乇丕爻賱禄 芦賮蹖賱爻賵賮禄貙 芦賲賳胤賯鈥屫з喡回� 芦乇蹖丕囟蹖鈥屫з喡回� 芦賲賵乇禺禄貙 芦噩丕賲毓賴 卮賳丕爻禄 賵 芦賮毓丕賱 氐賱丨鈥� 胤賱亘 亘乇蹖鬲丕賳蹖丕蹖蹖禄貨 賵 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 芦倬蹖卮鬲丕夭丕賳 賮賱丕爻賮賴禄 丿乇 爻丿賴 蹖 亘蹖爻鬲賲 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 賵 倬蹖卮诏丕賲 丿乇 芦鬲丨賱蹖賱 賲賳胤賯蹖禄 賵 芦賲丿丕賮毓 爻乇爻禺鬲 鬲噩乇亘賴鈥� 诏乇丕蹖蹖禄 亘賵丿賳丿貨 芦亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱禄貙 蹖讴 芦賮毓丕賱 囟丿 噩賳诏禄貙 賵 賳蹖夭 芦賲禺丕賱賮 丕賲倬乇蹖丕賱蹖爻賲禄 亘賵丿賳丿貙 讴賴 亘賴 丿賱蹖賱 亘丕賵乇賴丕蹖 氐賱丨鈥� 胤賱亘丕賳賴鈥� 蹖 禺賵蹖卮貙 丿乇 胤賵賱 噩賳诏 噩賴丕賳蹖 丕賵賱貙 丕夭 丿丕賳卮诏丕賴 丕禺乇丕噩 卮丿賳丿貙 賵 亘賴 夭賳丿丕賳 丕賮鬲丕丿賳丿貨 丕蹖卮丕賳 丕夭 芦賲禺丕賱賮丕賳 丌丿賵賱賮 賴蹖鬲賱乇禄貙 芦賲賳鬲賯丿 鬲賲丕賲蹖鬲鈥� 禺賵丕賴蹖 丕爻鬲丕賱蹖賳禄貙 芦賲毓鬲乇囟 亘賴 丿乇诏蹖乇蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 丿乇 噩賳诏 賵蹖鬲賳丕賲禄貙 賵 賴賲趩賳蹖賳 丕夭 芦丨丕賲蹖丕賳 禺賱毓 爻賱丕丨 賴爻鬲賴鈥� 丕蹖禄 亘賵丿賳丿貨 丕蹖卮丕賳 丿乇 爻丕賱1950賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 亘賴 倬丕爻 芦丌孬丕乇 賲鬲毓丿丿 丿乇 丨賲丕蹖鬲 丕夭 賳賵毓鈥� 丿賵爻鬲蹖 賵 丌夭丕丿蹖 丕賳丿蹖卮賴禄貙 亘乇賳丿賴 蹖 噩丕蹖夭賴 芦賳賵亘賱 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲禄 诏乇丿蹖丿賳丿貨 丕夭 丕蹖卮丕賳 丌孬丕乇 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 亘乇噩丕蹖 賲丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲貨 爻乇丕賳噩丕賲 丕蹖卮丕賳 丿乇 乇賵夭 丿賵賲 賲丕賴 賮賵乇蹖賴 爻丕賱1970賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 亘乇 丕孬乇 芦丌賳賮賱賵丌賳夭丕禄 丿乇 芦倬賳乇蹖賳丿蹖丿乇丕蹖孬 丿乇 賵賱夭禄 丿乇诏匕卮鬲賳丿. 亘賳丕 亘賴 賵氐蹖鬲 芦亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿禄貙 噩爻丿卮 乇丕 爻賵夭丕賳丿賳丿 賵 禺丕讴爻鬲乇卮 乇丕 乇賵蹖 讴賵賴鈥屬囏й� 芦賵賱夭禄 乇蹖禺鬲賳丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 15/10/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 26/10/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell (1967鈥�1969) is a three-volume work by Bertrand Russell.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 趩賴丕乇賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱1976賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮乇丨 丨丕賱 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘賯賱賲 禺賵丿卮貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲爻毓賵丿 丕賳氐丕乇蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 賮乇賵睾蹖貙 噩賱丿 賳禺爻鬲 丿乇 爻丕賱1346貙 丿乇394氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 卮乇丨 丨丕賱 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘賯賱賲 禺賵丿卮 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 亘乇蹖鬲丕賳蹖丕 - 爻丿賴20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮乇丨 丨丕賱 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘賯賱賲 禺賵丿卮貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕丨賲丿 亘蹖乇卮讴貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 禺賵丕乇夭賲蹖貙 爻丕賱1377貙 丿乇1162氐貨
賮賴乇爻鬲: 亘賴 丕丿蹖鬲 氐12貙 賵13貨 亘乇丕蹖 趩賴 夭蹖爻鬲賴 丕賲 氐14貨 亘趩诏蹖 氐17貨 賳賵噩賵丕賳蹖 氐54貨 讴蹖賲亘乇蹖噩 氐85貨 賳丕賲夭丿蹖 氐114貨 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 夭賳丕卮賵蹖蹖 氐197貨 倬乇蹖賳讴蹖倬蹖丕 賲丕鬲丕賲丕鬲蹖讴丕 氐230貨 亘丕夭 賴賲 讴蹖賲亘乇蹖噩 氐326貨 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 鬲丕 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 倬乇爻鬲卮诏丕賴 丌賱賵丿賴貙 氐369貨 噩賳诏 丕賵賱 氐370貨 乇賵爻蹖賴 氐510貨 趩蹖賳 氐555貨 丿賵賲蹖賳 夭賳丕卮賵蹖蹖 氐597貨 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 亘毓丿蹖 鬲賱诏乇丕賮 賴丕賵爻 氐666貨 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 爻丕賱1938賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 鬲丕 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 氐712貨 倬蹖卮诏賮鬲丕乇 爻丕賱1944賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 鬲丕 爻丕賱1967賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貨 氐785貨 亘丕夭诏卮鬲 亘賴 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 氐787貨 丿乇 賲蹖賴賳 賵 禺丕乇噩 丕夭 賲蹖賴賳 氐867貨 賲蹖丿丕賳 鬲乇丕賮丕賱诏丕乇 氐927貨 亘賳蹖丕丿 氐1013貨 亘毓丿 丕夭 鬲丨乇蹖乇 氐1125貨 賮賴乇爻鬲 乇丕賴賳賲丕 氐1131貨
賮賴乇爻鬲 讴鬲丕亘: 夭賳丿诏蹖 賳丕賲賴貨 丌孬丕乇貨 丿賲賵讴乇丕爻蹖 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖貨 賮賱爻賮賴 賱丕蹖亘賳蹖爻貨 丕氐賵賱 乇蹖丕囟蹖丕鬲貨 賲賯丿賲賴 丕蹖 亘乇 賮賱爻賮賴 乇蹖丕囟蹖貙 賵...貨
亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 丌乇鬲賵乇 賵蹖賱蹖丕賲 乇丕爻賱貙 爻賵賲蹖賳 芦丕乇賱 乇丕爻賱禄 芦賮蹖賱爻賵賮禄貙 芦賲賳胤賯鈥屫з喡回� 芦乇蹖丕囟蹖鈥屫з喡回� 芦賲賵乇禺禄貙 芦噩丕賲毓賴 卮賳丕爻禄 賵 芦賮毓丕賱 氐賱丨鈥� 胤賱亘 亘乇蹖鬲丕賳蹖丕蹖蹖禄貨 賵 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 芦倬蹖卮鬲丕夭丕賳 賮賱丕爻賮賴禄 丿乇 爻丿賴 蹖 亘蹖爻鬲賲 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 賵 倬蹖卮诏丕賲 丿乇 芦鬲丨賱蹖賱 賲賳胤賯蹖禄 賵 芦賲丿丕賮毓 爻乇爻禺鬲 鬲噩乇亘賴鈥� 诏乇丕蹖蹖禄 亘賵丿賳丿貨 芦亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱禄貙 蹖讴 芦賮毓丕賱 囟丿 噩賳诏禄貙 賵 賳蹖夭 芦賲禺丕賱賮 丕賲倬乇蹖丕賱蹖爻賲禄 亘賵丿賳丿貙 讴賴 亘賴 丿賱蹖賱 亘丕賵乇賴丕蹖 氐賱丨鈥� 胤賱亘丕賳賴鈥� 蹖 禺賵蹖卮貙 丿乇 胤賵賱 噩賳诏 噩賴丕賳蹖 丕賵賱貙 丕夭 丿丕賳卮诏丕賴 丕禺乇丕噩 卮丿賳丿貙 賵 亘賴 夭賳丿丕賳 丕賮鬲丕丿賳丿貨 丕蹖卮丕賳 丕夭 芦賲禺丕賱賮丕賳 丌丿賵賱賮 賴蹖鬲賱乇禄貙 芦賲賳鬲賯丿 鬲賲丕賲蹖鬲鈥� 禺賵丕賴蹖 丕爻鬲丕賱蹖賳禄貙 芦賲毓鬲乇囟 亘賴 丿乇诏蹖乇蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 丿乇 噩賳诏 賵蹖鬲賳丕賲禄貙 賵 賴賲趩賳蹖賳 丕夭 芦丨丕賲蹖丕賳 禺賱毓 爻賱丕丨 賴爻鬲賴鈥� 丕蹖禄 亘賵丿賳丿貨 丕蹖卮丕賳 丿乇 爻丕賱1950賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 亘賴 倬丕爻 芦丌孬丕乇 賲鬲毓丿丿 丿乇 丨賲丕蹖鬲 丕夭 賳賵毓鈥� 丿賵爻鬲蹖 賵 丌夭丕丿蹖 丕賳丿蹖卮賴禄貙 亘乇賳丿賴 蹖 噩丕蹖夭賴 芦賳賵亘賱 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲禄 诏乇丿蹖丿賳丿貨 丕夭 丕蹖卮丕賳 丌孬丕乇 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 亘乇噩丕蹖 賲丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲貨 爻乇丕賳噩丕賲 丕蹖卮丕賳 丿乇 乇賵夭 丿賵賲 賲丕賴 賮賵乇蹖賴 爻丕賱1970賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 亘乇 丕孬乇 芦丌賳賮賱賵丌賳夭丕禄 丿乇 芦倬賳乇蹖賳丿蹖丿乇丕蹖孬 丿乇 賵賱夭禄 丿乇诏匕卮鬲賳丿. 亘賳丕 亘賴 賵氐蹖鬲 芦亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿禄貙 噩爻丿卮 乇丕 爻賵夭丕賳丿賳丿 賵 禺丕讴爻鬲乇卮 乇丕 乇賵蹖 讴賵賴鈥屬囏й� 芦賵賱夭禄 乇蹖禺鬲賳丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 15/10/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 26/10/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
January 11, 2009
The most memorable sentence is definitely "I went out bicycling one afternoon and, suddenly, as I was riding along a country road, I realized that I no longer loved Alys". He immediately went home and told her about his unexpected discovery.
I can't imagine anyone writing this who wasn't a mathematician. (I know a lot of mathematicians). As Tom Stoppard comments in The Real Thing: "He's cycling along, and what happens? He falls off the bike? No, he realizes he no longer loves his wife!"
I was going to finish the review here, but I just made a realization myself. I was given this book as a present, when I was 19 years old, by a fairly well-known mathematician. I'd been dating his daughter, and we had broken up a few weeks earlier. It had been quite a serious thing for both of us. Now I wonder whether he meant anything in particular by giving me the book. He's a very deep guy. I see him occasionally (I am still good friends with my one-time girlfriend), but I don't think I'd dare ask him.
I'm surprised I didn't think about this until now.
I can't imagine anyone writing this who wasn't a mathematician. (I know a lot of mathematicians). As Tom Stoppard comments in The Real Thing: "He's cycling along, and what happens? He falls off the bike? No, he realizes he no longer loves his wife!"
I was going to finish the review here, but I just made a realization myself. I was given this book as a present, when I was 19 years old, by a fairly well-known mathematician. I'd been dating his daughter, and we had broken up a few weeks earlier. It had been quite a serious thing for both of us. Now I wonder whether he meant anything in particular by giving me the book. He's a very deep guy. I see him occasionally (I am still good friends with my one-time girlfriend), but I don't think I'd dare ask him.
I'm surprised I didn't think about this until now.
December 26, 2019
Acknowledgements
Introduction
--Autobiography
Postscript
Notes
Index
Introduction
--Autobiography
Postscript
Notes
Index
June 28, 2019
丿賵爻鬲丕賳賽 诏乇丕賳賯丿乇貙 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘貙 夭賳丿诏蹖賳丕賲踿 夭賳丿賴 蹖丕丿 芦亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱禄 亘夭乇诏賵丕乇 賵 丕賳丿蹖卮賲賳丿 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘賴 賯賱賲賽 丕乇夭卮賲賳丿卮 丿乇 爻賴 丿賵乇賴貙 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲... 丌賳趩賴 丿乇 噩丕蹖 噩丕蹖賽 賳賵卮鬲賴 賴丕蹖卮 亘賴 趩卮賲 賲蹖禺賵乇丿貙 丿乇爻賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖鬲 賵 禺乇丿賵乇夭蹖 賵 賲賴乇亘丕賳蹖爻鬲... 丕賽蹖 讴丕卮 乇賵夭蹖 亘乇爻丿 讴賴 賮乇夭賳丿丕賳賽 丕蹖賳 爻乇夭賲蹖賳 亘丕 賮賱爻賮踿 丕蹖賳 亘夭乇诏賲乇丿賽 鬲丕乇蹖禺貙 丌卮賳丕 卮丿賴 賵 亘賴 蹖丕乇蹖賽 丕蹖賳 丌賲賵夭诏丕乇賽 亘夭乇诏貙 夭賳丿诏蹖賽 禺賵蹖卮 乇丕 丕夭 亘賳丿賽 賲賵賴賵賲丕鬲 乇賴丕 爻丕禺鬲賴 賵 賮賱爻賮踿 禺乇丿 賵 丿丕賳卮賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 乇丕 爻乇賲卮賯賽 夭賳丿诏蹖 禺賵蹖卮 賯乇丕乇 丿賴賳丿.... 蹖丕丿 丕蹖賳 丕賳爻丕賳 禺乇丿賲賳丿貙 賴賲蹖卮賴 夭賳丿賴 賵 诏乇丕賲蹖 亘丕丿
丿乇 夭蹖乇 亘賴 丕賳鬲禺丕亘貙 賳賵卮鬲賴 賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖鬲丕賳 賲蹖賳賵蹖爻賲.. 亘丿賵賳賽 鬲乇丿蹖丿 丕賳丿蹖卮蹖丿賳 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賳賵卮鬲賴 賴丕貙 亘乇丕蹖賽 卮賲丕 丿賵爻鬲丕賳賽 丌诏丕賴貙 賲賮蹖丿 禺賵丕賴丿 亘賵丿
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丿乇 爻丕賱 1921 亘賴 趩蹖賳 爻賮乇 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿賲.. 賴賳诏丕賲蹖 讴賴 丿乇 卮賴乇賴丕蹖賽 賲禺鬲賱賮賽 趩蹖賳 賲卮睾賵賱賽 爻禺賳乇丕賳蹖 亘賵丿賲貙 亘賴 蹖讴亘丕乇賴 丿乇 倬丕蹖鬲禺鬲賽 丕蹖賳 讴卮賵乇 蹖毓賳蹖 卮賴乇賽 倬讴賳貙 丿趩丕乇賽 匕丕鬲 丕賱乇蹖踿 卮丿蹖丿 卮丿賲 賵 毓賱丕賵賴 亘乇 丌賳貙 丕夭 丕爻賴丕賱賽 禺賵賳蹖貙 賳丕乇丕丨鬲蹖 賴丕蹖賽 賯賱亘蹖貙 讴賱蹖賵蹖 賵 賵乇賲賽 丿蹖賵丕乇踿 爻蹖丕賴乇诏貙 乇賳噩 賲蹖亘乇丿賲.. 丕蹖賳 亘蹖賲丕乇蹖 爻亘亘 卮丿 鬲丕 亘賴 賱匕鬲賽 禺賵丕賳丿賳賽 蹖丕丿丿丕卮鬲 賴丕蹖賽 鬲爻賱蹖鬲 亘丕亘鬲賽 賲乇诏賲 丿爻鬲 蹖丕亘賲貙 亘蹖 丌賳讴賴 亘賴 乇丕爻鬲蹖 賲乇丿賴 亘丕卮賲... 亘賴 蹖丕丿 丿丕乇賲 讴賴 乇賵夭賳丕賲賴 丕蹖 賲乇亘賵胤 亘賴 丕丿蹖丕賳 賵 賲匕丕賴亘 賵 賲亘賱睾蹖賳賽 丿蹖賳 丕爻賱丕賲貙 倬蹖丕賲蹖 亘丕 丕蹖賳 賲鬲賳 丿乇 賲賵乇丿賽 賲乇诏 賲賳 賳賵卮鬲賴 亘賵丿 讴賴: 丕賳卮丕賱賱賴 丕夭 丕蹖賳 亘賴 亘毓丿貙 丿蹖賳丿丕乇丕賳 賵 賲亘賱睾蹖賳 賲匕賴亘蹖貙 丕夭 賲乇诏賽 丌賯丕蹖 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱貙 賳賮爻賽 乇丕丨鬲蹖 禺賵丕賴賳丿 讴卮蹖丿!!!!! 丨丕賱 賲賳 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 丕賳爻丕賳貙 賳诏乇丕賳 丕蹖賳 賴爻鬲賲 讴賴 丌賳 丿蹖賳丿丕乇丕賳貙 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲鬲賵噩賴 卮賵賳丿 讴賴 賲賳 讴賲丕讴丕賳 夭賳丿賴 賴爻鬲賲貙 賳賮爻蹖 亘賴 爻禺鬲蹖 亘讴卮賳丿 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 亘乇 丌賳賴丕 丿卮賵丕乇 卮賵丿... 趩蹖賳蹖 賴丕 賯乇丕乇 亘賵丿 倬爻 丕夭 賲乇诏賽 賲賳貙 亘乇丕蹖賲 亘丕乇诏丕賴 賵 诏賳亘丿蹖 丿乇 讴賳丕乇賽 丿乇蹖丕趩踿 睾乇亘蹖 爻丕禺鬲賴 賵 丌賳 乇丕 亘賴 夭蹖丕乇鬲诏丕賴賽 乇丕爻賱 鬲亘丿蹖賱 讴賳賳丿.. 乇丕爻鬲卮 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賴蹖丿貙 丕賳丿讴蹖 賲鬲兀爻賮 卮丿賲 讴賴 丕蹖賳 丕鬲賮丕賯 賳蹖賮鬲丕丿貙 趩乇丕讴賴 丌賳 賲賵賯毓 鬲亘丿蹖賱 亘賴 蹖讴 賯丿蹖爻 賲蹖卮丿賲.. 賵 趩賯丿乇 亘丕讴賱丕爻 賵 亘丕賲夭賴 丕爻鬲 讴賴 蹖讴 亘蹖 丿蹖賳 賵 禺乇丿诏乇丕 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲蹖賽 賯丿丕爻鬲 賴丕蹖賽 丿蹖賳蹖 賵 賯丿蹖爻丕賳 乇丕 丿乇賵睾蹖賳 賵 丕亘賱賴丕賳賴 賲蹖卮賲丕乇丿貙 禺賵丿卮 亘賴 蹖讴 賯丿蹖爻 鬲亘丿蹖賱 卮賵丿
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毓夭蹖夭丕賳賲貙 亘丕 禺賵丕賳丿賳賽 丕蹖賳 噩賲賱丕鬲 丕夭 乇丕爻賱貙 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賳鬲蹖噩賴 賲蹖乇爻蹖賲 讴賴 丿蹖賳 賵 賲匕賴亘 趩诏賵賳賴 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖卮賵丿 讴蹖賳賴 賵 丿卮賲賳蹖 丿乇 賵噩賵丿賽 賲鬲毓氐亘丕賳 賵 倬蹖乇賵丕賳卮 乇蹖卮賴 丿賵丕賳丿賴 賵 丌賳賴丕 乇丕囟蹖 亘賴 賲乇诏 賵 亘丿亘禺鬲蹖賽 丿蹖诏乇 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 亘丕卮賳丿.. 丕蹖賳 丿蹖賳 噩夭 丿卮賲賳蹖 賵 亘丿禺賵丕賴蹖 賵 賳丕亘賵丿蹖賽 禺乇丿賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕貙 趩賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘乇丕蹖賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖鬲 亘賴 噩丕 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 丕爻鬲... 禺賵丿鬲丕賳 丿丕賵乇蹖 讴賳蹖丿
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賲賳貙 丿乇 丕蹖賳 爻丕賱賴丕貙 亘乇丕蹖賽 乇爻蹖丿賳 亘賴 丿蹖丿诏丕賴蹖 讴賴 賴賲 卮禺氐蹖 賵 賴賲 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 亘賵丿賴貙 夭蹖爻鬲賴 丕賲
卮禺氐蹖 丕夭 丌賳 噩賴鬲 讴賴 丕夭 亘夭乇诏賵丕乇蹖 賵 爻乇亘賱賳丿蹖 賵 夭蹖亘丕蹖蹖 賳诏賴丿丕乇蹖 讴賳賲 鬲丕 賱丨馗賴 丕蹖 乇丕 賮乇丕賴賲 讴乇丿賴 亘丕卮賲 讴賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 丿賳蹖丕 賵 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 賲賵噩賵丿丕鬲卮貙 禺乇丿 賵 丿丕賳卮賽 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 丕乇夭丕賳蹖 丿丕卮鬲賴 賵 倬蹖卮讴卮 讴賳賲
丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 丕夭 丌賳 噩賴鬲 讴賴 丿乇 丕賳丿蹖卮賴 賵 乇賵蹖丕賴丕蹖賲貙 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 乇丕 亘亘蹖賳賲 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 丌夭丕丿 賲蹖乇賵蹖賳丿 賵 丌夭丕丿 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴賳賳丿 賵 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 賲孬賱賽 亘蹖夭丕乇蹖 賵 丌夭 賵 丨爻丿 賲蹖賲蹖乇賳丿 賵 禺卮讴 賲蹖卮賵賳丿貙 趩乇丕讴賴 讴爻蹖 丕夭 丌賳賴丕 鬲睾匕蹖賴 賳賲蹖讴賳丿
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賲賳 丕夭 禺胤乇賽 鬲噩賴蹖夭 卮丿賳賽 讴卮賵乇賴丕 亘賴 爻賱丕丨賽 賴爻鬲賴 丕蹖 賵 丌爻蹖亘 賴丕蹖賽 賴賵賱賳丕讴賽 丌賳貙 丌诏丕賴 亘賵丿賲.. 亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 鬲氐賲蹖賲 诏乇賮鬲賳 亘賴 賴賲诏丕賳 賳爻亘鬲 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 賴卮丿丕乇 丿賴賲.. 诏賲丕賳 賲蹖讴乇丿賲 讴賴 丕诏乇 丕夭 丨賮馗賽 噩丕賳賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 丌丿丕亘賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖鬲 爻禺賳 亘诏賵蹖賲貙 爻亘亘 賲蹖卮賵丿 鬲丕 丕賳诏蹖夭踿 丨賮馗賽 噩丕賳貙 賳爻亘鬲 亘賴 丕賳诏蹖夭踿 丿丕卮鬲賳賽 亘賲亘賽 賴爻鬲賴 丕蹖貙 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿 鬲乇 卮丿賴 賵 亘乇 丌賳 倬蹖乇賵夭 卮賵丿... 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴乇丿賲 賲乇丿賲 丿賵爻鬲 賳丿丕乇賳丿 賲賳馗乇踿 丌鬲卮 诏乇賮鬲賳 賵 讴亘丕亘 卮丿賳賽 禺賵丿 賵 禺賵蹖卮丕賵賳丿丕賳 賵 賴賲爻丕蹖诏丕賳 賵 賴乇 賲賵噩賵丿賽 夭賳丿踿 丿蹖诏乇蹖 乇丕 鬲賲丕卮丕 讴賳賳丿.. 亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 賱丕夭賲 亘賵丿 鬲丕 丕蹖賳 禺胤乇 乇丕 诏賵卮夭丿 讴賳賲 鬲丕 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 丕夭 賴乇 丿爻鬲賴 賵 賳跇丕丿 賵 丨夭亘蹖貙 亘丕 蹖讴丿蹖诏乇 蹖讴倬丕乇趩賴 卮丿賴 賵 噩賱賵蹖賽 爻丕禺鬲賽 丕蹖賳 爻賱丕丨賽 賵蹖乇丕賳诏乇 乇丕 亘诏蹖乇賳丿 賵 丕賲賳蹖鬲 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 賲賵噩賵丿丕鬲賽 讴乇踿 夭賲蹖賳貙 鬲兀賲蹖賳 讴賳賳丿.. 賵賱蹖 亘毓丿賴丕 賮賴賲蹖丿賲 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲賽 鬲氐賵乇丕鬲賲 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賲乇丿賲 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲... 丕賳诏蹖夭賴 丕蹖 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賲蹖丕賳 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 丕夭 丨爻賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖鬲 賵 丿賱爻賵夭蹖 賵 丨賮馗賽 噩丕賳 賳蹖夭 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿鬲乇 丕爻鬲! 賵 丌賳 丕賳诏蹖夭賴 趩蹖夭蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 噩夭: 丌乇夭賵蹖賽 亘乇鬲乇 亘賵丿賳 丕夭 丿蹖诏乇丕賳
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爻賴 丕丨爻丕爻賽 爻丕丿賴貙 賵賱蹖 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿貙 夭賳丿诏蹖賽 賲賳 乇丕 鬲丨鬲賽 爻賱胤踿 禺賵蹖卮 丿乇丌賵乇丿賴 丕爻鬲: 卮賵乇賽 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賳貙 卮賵乇賽 丿丕賳爻鬲賳 賵 丕賳丿賵賴蹖 亘蹖 倬丕蹖丕賳 亘乇丕蹖賽 乇賳噩 賵 丿乇丿蹖 讴賴 亘乇 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵丕乇丿 賲蹖卮賵丿.... 丕夭 丌賳噩丕 讴賴 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴賲蹖卮賴 毓卮賯 乇丕 丿乇禺賵丕爻鬲 讴乇丿賴 丕賲 賵 毓卮賯 賲乇丕 丕夭 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 乇賴丕蹖蹖 亘禺卮蹖丿賴.. 亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 亘乇丕蹖賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賳蹖夭 毓卮賯 賵 蹖讴倬丕乇趩诏蹖 丿乇 毓卮賯 賵 噩賴丕賳 丿賵爻鬲蹖 乇丕 丌乇夭賵 丿丕乇賲
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丕賲蹖丿賵丕乇賲 丕蹖賳 乇蹖賵蹖賵貙 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 丿賵爻鬲丕賳賽 禺乇丿诏乇丕 賵 賲賴乇亘丕賳貙 賲賮蹖丿 亘賵丿賴 亘丕卮賴
芦倬蹖乇賵夭 亘丕卮蹖丿 賵 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖禄
丿乇 夭蹖乇 亘賴 丕賳鬲禺丕亘貙 賳賵卮鬲賴 賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖鬲丕賳 賲蹖賳賵蹖爻賲.. 亘丿賵賳賽 鬲乇丿蹖丿 丕賳丿蹖卮蹖丿賳 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賳賵卮鬲賴 賴丕貙 亘乇丕蹖賽 卮賲丕 丿賵爻鬲丕賳賽 丌诏丕賴貙 賲賮蹖丿 禺賵丕賴丿 亘賵丿
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丿乇 爻丕賱 1921 亘賴 趩蹖賳 爻賮乇 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿賲.. 賴賳诏丕賲蹖 讴賴 丿乇 卮賴乇賴丕蹖賽 賲禺鬲賱賮賽 趩蹖賳 賲卮睾賵賱賽 爻禺賳乇丕賳蹖 亘賵丿賲貙 亘賴 蹖讴亘丕乇賴 丿乇 倬丕蹖鬲禺鬲賽 丕蹖賳 讴卮賵乇 蹖毓賳蹖 卮賴乇賽 倬讴賳貙 丿趩丕乇賽 匕丕鬲 丕賱乇蹖踿 卮丿蹖丿 卮丿賲 賵 毓賱丕賵賴 亘乇 丌賳貙 丕夭 丕爻賴丕賱賽 禺賵賳蹖貙 賳丕乇丕丨鬲蹖 賴丕蹖賽 賯賱亘蹖貙 讴賱蹖賵蹖 賵 賵乇賲賽 丿蹖賵丕乇踿 爻蹖丕賴乇诏貙 乇賳噩 賲蹖亘乇丿賲.. 丕蹖賳 亘蹖賲丕乇蹖 爻亘亘 卮丿 鬲丕 亘賴 賱匕鬲賽 禺賵丕賳丿賳賽 蹖丕丿丿丕卮鬲 賴丕蹖賽 鬲爻賱蹖鬲 亘丕亘鬲賽 賲乇诏賲 丿爻鬲 蹖丕亘賲貙 亘蹖 丌賳讴賴 亘賴 乇丕爻鬲蹖 賲乇丿賴 亘丕卮賲... 亘賴 蹖丕丿 丿丕乇賲 讴賴 乇賵夭賳丕賲賴 丕蹖 賲乇亘賵胤 亘賴 丕丿蹖丕賳 賵 賲匕丕賴亘 賵 賲亘賱睾蹖賳賽 丿蹖賳 丕爻賱丕賲貙 倬蹖丕賲蹖 亘丕 丕蹖賳 賲鬲賳 丿乇 賲賵乇丿賽 賲乇诏 賲賳 賳賵卮鬲賴 亘賵丿 讴賴: 丕賳卮丕賱賱賴 丕夭 丕蹖賳 亘賴 亘毓丿貙 丿蹖賳丿丕乇丕賳 賵 賲亘賱睾蹖賳 賲匕賴亘蹖貙 丕夭 賲乇诏賽 丌賯丕蹖 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱貙 賳賮爻賽 乇丕丨鬲蹖 禺賵丕賴賳丿 讴卮蹖丿!!!!! 丨丕賱 賲賳 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 丕賳爻丕賳貙 賳诏乇丕賳 丕蹖賳 賴爻鬲賲 讴賴 丌賳 丿蹖賳丿丕乇丕賳貙 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲鬲賵噩賴 卮賵賳丿 讴賴 賲賳 讴賲丕讴丕賳 夭賳丿賴 賴爻鬲賲貙 賳賮爻蹖 亘賴 爻禺鬲蹖 亘讴卮賳丿 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 亘乇 丌賳賴丕 丿卮賵丕乇 卮賵丿... 趩蹖賳蹖 賴丕 賯乇丕乇 亘賵丿 倬爻 丕夭 賲乇诏賽 賲賳貙 亘乇丕蹖賲 亘丕乇诏丕賴 賵 诏賳亘丿蹖 丿乇 讴賳丕乇賽 丿乇蹖丕趩踿 睾乇亘蹖 爻丕禺鬲賴 賵 丌賳 乇丕 亘賴 夭蹖丕乇鬲诏丕賴賽 乇丕爻賱 鬲亘丿蹖賱 讴賳賳丿.. 乇丕爻鬲卮 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賴蹖丿貙 丕賳丿讴蹖 賲鬲兀爻賮 卮丿賲 讴賴 丕蹖賳 丕鬲賮丕賯 賳蹖賮鬲丕丿貙 趩乇丕讴賴 丌賳 賲賵賯毓 鬲亘丿蹖賱 亘賴 蹖讴 賯丿蹖爻 賲蹖卮丿賲.. 賵 趩賯丿乇 亘丕讴賱丕爻 賵 亘丕賲夭賴 丕爻鬲 讴賴 蹖讴 亘蹖 丿蹖賳 賵 禺乇丿诏乇丕 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲蹖賽 賯丿丕爻鬲 賴丕蹖賽 丿蹖賳蹖 賵 賯丿蹖爻丕賳 乇丕 丿乇賵睾蹖賳 賵 丕亘賱賴丕賳賴 賲蹖卮賲丕乇丿貙 禺賵丿卮 亘賴 蹖讴 賯丿蹖爻 鬲亘丿蹖賱 卮賵丿
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毓夭蹖夭丕賳賲貙 亘丕 禺賵丕賳丿賳賽 丕蹖賳 噩賲賱丕鬲 丕夭 乇丕爻賱貙 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賳鬲蹖噩賴 賲蹖乇爻蹖賲 讴賴 丿蹖賳 賵 賲匕賴亘 趩诏賵賳賴 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖卮賵丿 讴蹖賳賴 賵 丿卮賲賳蹖 丿乇 賵噩賵丿賽 賲鬲毓氐亘丕賳 賵 倬蹖乇賵丕賳卮 乇蹖卮賴 丿賵丕賳丿賴 賵 丌賳賴丕 乇丕囟蹖 亘賴 賲乇诏 賵 亘丿亘禺鬲蹖賽 丿蹖诏乇 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 亘丕卮賳丿.. 丕蹖賳 丿蹖賳 噩夭 丿卮賲賳蹖 賵 亘丿禺賵丕賴蹖 賵 賳丕亘賵丿蹖賽 禺乇丿賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕貙 趩賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘乇丕蹖賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖鬲 亘賴 噩丕 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 丕爻鬲... 禺賵丿鬲丕賳 丿丕賵乇蹖 讴賳蹖丿
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賲賳貙 丿乇 丕蹖賳 爻丕賱賴丕貙 亘乇丕蹖賽 乇爻蹖丿賳 亘賴 丿蹖丿诏丕賴蹖 讴賴 賴賲 卮禺氐蹖 賵 賴賲 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 亘賵丿賴貙 夭蹖爻鬲賴 丕賲
卮禺氐蹖 丕夭 丌賳 噩賴鬲 讴賴 丕夭 亘夭乇诏賵丕乇蹖 賵 爻乇亘賱賳丿蹖 賵 夭蹖亘丕蹖蹖 賳诏賴丿丕乇蹖 讴賳賲 鬲丕 賱丨馗賴 丕蹖 乇丕 賮乇丕賴賲 讴乇丿賴 亘丕卮賲 讴賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 丿賳蹖丕 賵 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 賲賵噩賵丿丕鬲卮貙 禺乇丿 賵 丿丕賳卮賽 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 丕乇夭丕賳蹖 丿丕卮鬲賴 賵 倬蹖卮讴卮 讴賳賲
丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 丕夭 丌賳 噩賴鬲 讴賴 丿乇 丕賳丿蹖卮賴 賵 乇賵蹖丕賴丕蹖賲貙 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 乇丕 亘亘蹖賳賲 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 丌夭丕丿 賲蹖乇賵蹖賳丿 賵 丌夭丕丿 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴賳賳丿 賵 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 賲孬賱賽 亘蹖夭丕乇蹖 賵 丌夭 賵 丨爻丿 賲蹖賲蹖乇賳丿 賵 禺卮讴 賲蹖卮賵賳丿貙 趩乇丕讴賴 讴爻蹖 丕夭 丌賳賴丕 鬲睾匕蹖賴 賳賲蹖讴賳丿
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賲賳 丕夭 禺胤乇賽 鬲噩賴蹖夭 卮丿賳賽 讴卮賵乇賴丕 亘賴 爻賱丕丨賽 賴爻鬲賴 丕蹖 賵 丌爻蹖亘 賴丕蹖賽 賴賵賱賳丕讴賽 丌賳貙 丌诏丕賴 亘賵丿賲.. 亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 鬲氐賲蹖賲 诏乇賮鬲賳 亘賴 賴賲诏丕賳 賳爻亘鬲 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 賴卮丿丕乇 丿賴賲.. 诏賲丕賳 賲蹖讴乇丿賲 讴賴 丕诏乇 丕夭 丨賮馗賽 噩丕賳賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 丌丿丕亘賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖鬲 爻禺賳 亘诏賵蹖賲貙 爻亘亘 賲蹖卮賵丿 鬲丕 丕賳诏蹖夭踿 丨賮馗賽 噩丕賳貙 賳爻亘鬲 亘賴 丕賳诏蹖夭踿 丿丕卮鬲賳賽 亘賲亘賽 賴爻鬲賴 丕蹖貙 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿 鬲乇 卮丿賴 賵 亘乇 丌賳 倬蹖乇賵夭 卮賵丿... 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴乇丿賲 賲乇丿賲 丿賵爻鬲 賳丿丕乇賳丿 賲賳馗乇踿 丌鬲卮 诏乇賮鬲賳 賵 讴亘丕亘 卮丿賳賽 禺賵丿 賵 禺賵蹖卮丕賵賳丿丕賳 賵 賴賲爻丕蹖诏丕賳 賵 賴乇 賲賵噩賵丿賽 夭賳丿踿 丿蹖诏乇蹖 乇丕 鬲賲丕卮丕 讴賳賳丿.. 亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 賱丕夭賲 亘賵丿 鬲丕 丕蹖賳 禺胤乇 乇丕 诏賵卮夭丿 讴賳賲 鬲丕 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 丕夭 賴乇 丿爻鬲賴 賵 賳跇丕丿 賵 丨夭亘蹖貙 亘丕 蹖讴丿蹖诏乇 蹖讴倬丕乇趩賴 卮丿賴 賵 噩賱賵蹖賽 爻丕禺鬲賽 丕蹖賳 爻賱丕丨賽 賵蹖乇丕賳诏乇 乇丕 亘诏蹖乇賳丿 賵 丕賲賳蹖鬲 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 賲賵噩賵丿丕鬲賽 讴乇踿 夭賲蹖賳貙 鬲兀賲蹖賳 讴賳賳丿.. 賵賱蹖 亘毓丿賴丕 賮賴賲蹖丿賲 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲賽 鬲氐賵乇丕鬲賲 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賲乇丿賲 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲... 丕賳诏蹖夭賴 丕蹖 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賲蹖丕賳 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 丕夭 丨爻賽 丕賳爻丕賳蹖鬲 賵 丿賱爻賵夭蹖 賵 丨賮馗賽 噩丕賳 賳蹖夭 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿鬲乇 丕爻鬲! 賵 丌賳 丕賳诏蹖夭賴 趩蹖夭蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 噩夭: 丌乇夭賵蹖賽 亘乇鬲乇 亘賵丿賳 丕夭 丿蹖诏乇丕賳
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爻賴 丕丨爻丕爻賽 爻丕丿賴貙 賵賱蹖 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿貙 夭賳丿诏蹖賽 賲賳 乇丕 鬲丨鬲賽 爻賱胤踿 禺賵蹖卮 丿乇丌賵乇丿賴 丕爻鬲: 卮賵乇賽 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賳貙 卮賵乇賽 丿丕賳爻鬲賳 賵 丕賳丿賵賴蹖 亘蹖 倬丕蹖丕賳 亘乇丕蹖賽 乇賳噩 賵 丿乇丿蹖 讴賴 亘乇 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵丕乇丿 賲蹖卮賵丿.... 丕夭 丌賳噩丕 讴賴 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴賲蹖卮賴 毓卮賯 乇丕 丿乇禺賵丕爻鬲 讴乇丿賴 丕賲 賵 毓卮賯 賲乇丕 丕夭 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 乇賴丕蹖蹖 亘禺卮蹖丿賴.. 亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 亘乇丕蹖賽 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賳蹖夭 毓卮賯 賵 蹖讴倬丕乇趩诏蹖 丿乇 毓卮賯 賵 噩賴丕賳 丿賵爻鬲蹖 乇丕 丌乇夭賵 丿丕乇賲
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丕賲蹖丿賵丕乇賲 丕蹖賳 乇蹖賵蹖賵貙 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 丿賵爻鬲丕賳賽 禺乇丿诏乇丕 賵 賲賴乇亘丕賳貙 賲賮蹖丿 亘賵丿賴 亘丕卮賴
芦倬蹖乇賵夭 亘丕卮蹖丿 賵 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖禄
September 12, 2016
Some 45 years ago whenever I saw this formidable memoir by one of the great thinkers, philosophers, mathematicians, etc. in the 20th century I thought I would never finish reading it due to its presumably complex narrations as well as highly academic jargons used normally by those world famous intellectuals everywhere. However, in 2002 something called fortune has dictated to change my conviction when I came across this oldish, brownish paperback at the UQ flea market one morning and I decided to buy it (AUD 7.50) and then wondered if I could read it till the end.
Since then I read some of his books, for instance, 'Conquest of Happiness,' 'In Praise if Idleness,' 'Fact and Fiction' (unfinished) etc. and, surprisingly, found most of his narrative descriptions humble, readable and understandable. One of the reasons is that, I think, he's applied his formidable wisdom on logic in his writings. In other words, he's wisely written in those logical terms, sequences, examples, etc. so that, fortunately, his readers worldwide could and still can enjoy reading his innumerable titles you can find/order from any good bookstores in your countries. As for those unfamiliar with him, you may read his biography in the Wikipedia website first and you may start any Part/Chapter you prefer in 'Fact and Fiction' (Routledge 2010, first edition published by Allen & Unwin 1961) as follows: [Chapter titles in Part I only]
PART I Books that Influenced Me in Youth
1 The Importance of Shelly
2 The Romance of Revolt
3 Revolt in the Abstract
4 Disgust and Its Antidote
5 An Education in History
6 The Pursuit of Truth
PART II Politics and Education
...
PART III Divertissements
...
PART IV Peace and War
...
While reading his books, I normally have a pencil to mark, tick, underline, question, etc. as well as take notes of some interesting terms/ideas/phrases, etc. For example, I found this sentence enlightening, wondered how it could be and thought if it could be doable.
And we laughed consumedly -- sometimes about nothing at all . (p. 559)
I mean the adverb, 'consumedly' since I've never read/found it anywhere till I read him.
This autobiography has three parts: 1872-1914 (7 Chapters), 1914-1944 (6 Chapters) and 1944-1967 (4 Chapters). You may read the text in each chapter first since every chapter (except Chapter 1) is followed by various letters from himself, from/to his friends/dignitaries, as well as articles, speeches, leaflets, etc.
When I was in my twenties studying in Bangkok, now I still recall seeing him sometime on television or in newspapers as an elderly activist, he might have been a nonagenarian then, among those young and middle-aged people. I kept wondering why he still kept doing so in such a great old age, therefore, when I read his biography his fame has since commanded my awe-inspiring admiration and respect as one of the great scholars whom I can keep reading and applying his wisdom in my life.
Since then I read some of his books, for instance, 'Conquest of Happiness,' 'In Praise if Idleness,' 'Fact and Fiction' (unfinished) etc. and, surprisingly, found most of his narrative descriptions humble, readable and understandable. One of the reasons is that, I think, he's applied his formidable wisdom on logic in his writings. In other words, he's wisely written in those logical terms, sequences, examples, etc. so that, fortunately, his readers worldwide could and still can enjoy reading his innumerable titles you can find/order from any good bookstores in your countries. As for those unfamiliar with him, you may read his biography in the Wikipedia website first and you may start any Part/Chapter you prefer in 'Fact and Fiction' (Routledge 2010, first edition published by Allen & Unwin 1961) as follows: [Chapter titles in Part I only]
PART I Books that Influenced Me in Youth
1 The Importance of Shelly
2 The Romance of Revolt
3 Revolt in the Abstract
4 Disgust and Its Antidote
5 An Education in History
6 The Pursuit of Truth
PART II Politics and Education
...
PART III Divertissements
...
PART IV Peace and War
...
While reading his books, I normally have a pencil to mark, tick, underline, question, etc. as well as take notes of some interesting terms/ideas/phrases, etc. For example, I found this sentence enlightening, wondered how it could be and thought if it could be doable.
And we laughed consumedly -- sometimes about nothing at all . (p. 559)
I mean the adverb, 'consumedly' since I've never read/found it anywhere till I read him.
This autobiography has three parts: 1872-1914 (7 Chapters), 1914-1944 (6 Chapters) and 1944-1967 (4 Chapters). You may read the text in each chapter first since every chapter (except Chapter 1) is followed by various letters from himself, from/to his friends/dignitaries, as well as articles, speeches, leaflets, etc.
When I was in my twenties studying in Bangkok, now I still recall seeing him sometime on television or in newspapers as an elderly activist, he might have been a nonagenarian then, among those young and middle-aged people. I kept wondering why he still kept doing so in such a great old age, therefore, when I read his biography his fame has since commanded my awe-inspiring admiration and respect as one of the great scholars whom I can keep reading and applying his wisdom in my life.
September 2, 2018
螒蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈蟿蔚蟻蔚蟼 渭慰蟻蠁苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻慰畏纬慰蠉渭蔚谓慰蠀 伪喂蠋谓伪, 慰 Russell 伪蟺苇未蔚喂尉蔚 蟺蔚蟻委蟿蟻伪谓伪 蟺蠅蟼 慰 蟺谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟼 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 魏伪喂 蔚谓蔚蟻纬蠈蟼 蟺慰位委蟿畏蟼, "渭蔚蟿苇蠂蠅谓 魏伪喂 慰蠀蠂委 伪蟺蟻维纬渭蠅谓".
螣 渭伪魏蟻蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀 尾委慰蟼, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟺谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪蟻伪魏伪蟿伪胃萎魏畏 渭蔚 蟿畏 渭慰蟻蠁萎 蟺慰位蠉蟿慰渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 蟺慰喂魏喂位蠈渭慰蟻蠁慰蠀 苇蟻纬慰蠀, 渭蠈谓慰 未苇慰蟼 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉谓 谓伪 蟺蟻慰魏伪位苇蟽慰蠀谓. 螤慰位位蠋 未蔚 渭维位位慰谓, 未蔚未慰渭苇谓慰蠀 蟺蠅蟼 蠅蟼 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟽蠂蔚未蠈谓 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟿慰蠀, 未蔚谓 蔚纬魏伪蟿苇位蔚喂蠄蔚 蟺慰蟿苇 蟿畏谓 "伪蟻苇谓伪" 蟿畏蟼 魏慰喂谓蠅谓委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 蟽蠀纬魏蟻慰蠉蟽蔚蠋谓 蟿畏蟼.
韦慰蠉蟿慰蠀 未慰胃苇谓蟿慰蟼, 胃伪 伪谓苇渭蔚谓伪 渭喂伪 蟽伪蠁蠋蟼 蟺喂慰 蟺位畏胃蠅蟻喂魏萎, 蟺伪胃喂伪蟽渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 蟺慰喂魏喂位蠈蠂蟻蠅渭畏 伪蠀蟿慰蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺慰纬蟻伪蠁委伪. 螒谓蟿' 伪蠀蟿慰蠉, 蟿慰 蟺慰位蠀蟽苇位喂未慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 魏喂谓蔚委蟿伪喂 渭维位位慰谓 渭蔚 蟿畏 渭慰蟻蠁萎 蔚位伪蠁蟻慰蠉鈥� 魏蠀渭伪蟿喂蟽渭慰蠉, 蟺伪蟻维 蟺位畏渭渭蠀蟻委未伪蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 萎蟿伪谓 畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 伪谓未蟻蠈蟼. 螛伪 苇位蔚纬蔚 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 蟺蠅蟼 慰 渭伪胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟼 魏伪蟿委蟽蠂蠀蟽蔚 蟿慰蠀 蠁喂位慰蟽蠈蠁慰蠀 魏伪喂 畏 魏伪蟿伪纬蟻伪蠁萎 蟿蠅谓 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈蟿蔚蟻蠅谓 蟽蟿喂纬渭蠋谓 蟿慰蠀 尾委慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 伪蟺慰蟽蟿伪蟽喂慰蟺慰喂畏渭苇谓伪 伪蟺蠈 蠈,蟿喂 委蟽蠅蟼 伪谓苇渭蔚谓伪.
螣 渭伪魏蟻蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀 尾委慰蟼, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟺谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪蟻伪魏伪蟿伪胃萎魏畏 渭蔚 蟿畏 渭慰蟻蠁萎 蟺慰位蠉蟿慰渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 蟺慰喂魏喂位蠈渭慰蟻蠁慰蠀 苇蟻纬慰蠀, 渭蠈谓慰 未苇慰蟼 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉谓 谓伪 蟺蟻慰魏伪位苇蟽慰蠀谓. 螤慰位位蠋 未蔚 渭维位位慰谓, 未蔚未慰渭苇谓慰蠀 蟺蠅蟼 蠅蟼 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟽蠂蔚未蠈谓 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟿慰蠀, 未蔚谓 蔚纬魏伪蟿苇位蔚喂蠄蔚 蟺慰蟿苇 蟿畏谓 "伪蟻苇谓伪" 蟿畏蟼 魏慰喂谓蠅谓委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 蟽蠀纬魏蟻慰蠉蟽蔚蠋谓 蟿畏蟼.
韦慰蠉蟿慰蠀 未慰胃苇谓蟿慰蟼, 胃伪 伪谓苇渭蔚谓伪 渭喂伪 蟽伪蠁蠋蟼 蟺喂慰 蟺位畏胃蠅蟻喂魏萎, 蟺伪胃喂伪蟽渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 蟺慰喂魏喂位蠈蠂蟻蠅渭畏 伪蠀蟿慰蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺慰纬蟻伪蠁委伪. 螒谓蟿' 伪蠀蟿慰蠉, 蟿慰 蟺慰位蠀蟽苇位喂未慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 魏喂谓蔚委蟿伪喂 渭维位位慰谓 渭蔚 蟿畏 渭慰蟻蠁萎 蔚位伪蠁蟻慰蠉鈥� 魏蠀渭伪蟿喂蟽渭慰蠉, 蟺伪蟻维 蟺位畏渭渭蠀蟻委未伪蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 萎蟿伪谓 畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 伪谓未蟻蠈蟼. 螛伪 苇位蔚纬蔚 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 蟺蠅蟼 慰 渭伪胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟼 魏伪蟿委蟽蠂蠀蟽蔚 蟿慰蠀 蠁喂位慰蟽蠈蠁慰蠀 魏伪喂 畏 魏伪蟿伪纬蟻伪蠁萎 蟿蠅谓 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈蟿蔚蟻蠅谓 蟽蟿喂纬渭蠋谓 蟿慰蠀 尾委慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 伪蟺慰蟽蟿伪蟽喂慰蟺慰喂畏渭苇谓伪 伪蟺蠈 蠈,蟿喂 委蟽蠅蟼 伪谓苇渭蔚谓伪.
June 8, 2021
丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賳丕賲賴 賴丕
August 17, 2020
An amazing autobiography by an amazing person! Written in Russell's last years (he reached 98 years) it is sort of distorted, in the sense that the period 1872-1914 comprises a third; the period 1914-1944 another third; and the period 1944-196ish another third. In short: the closer you come to Russell's moment of writing the text, the longer and less interesting the material becomes.
And this is sad, since the most touching moments - especially personal letters - of the book are when Russell personally reflects and reminisces on his childhood and his early career as a philosopher and mathematician. He was a passionate man, tending towards mysticism in his younger years, yet gradually losing all hopes of finding any certain truths - his latter years are more pessimistic (fearing a nuclear war and the subsequent destruction of mankind) and more skeptic. The way Russell describes persons and events of his life, using his wit and emotional insights, is truly wonderful. As a reader, you'll get swept along and feel you are taking part in the life of a man who embodied the radical changes that took place during his (long) life.
In his later years Russell felt more and more that now there was a new world, and at times wondered why he was still part of it. (This kind of deep reflection and sadness was part of Russell's life - he lived through multiple suicidal phases.) His grandfather met Napoleon Bonaparte in person, and Russell's own first three decades took place in the nineteenth century. Although he had a keen eye in predicting world events (for example the First World War, Hitler and Stalin, as well as the A-bomb) - showing us that he did adapt continuously to these roaring times - he did feel slightly alienated and depressed at the end of his life. Which was countered by his fourth love - supposedly the fullest love he ever experienced - showing us that the abstract philosopher was in other terms a worldly man of flesh and blood: he was married three times and had a whole string of liaisons.
As mentioned, the final third of this book (Volume III) was written in 1969-1970 (the latter being the year he died) and as he mentions in the preface to this volume, will not offer much personal information about relatives, friends, colleagues, etc. Instead of this - which made volumes I and II so superb - we get page after page on Russell's exploits in international relations, his travels with his third wife, his publications, etc. I found these things less interesting and more distant from Russell's personal life and was rather disappointed with his approach to this third volume. Allegedly, the fact that he would have to describe his last 20-30 years, all recent events, involving many people still alive (at the time of publication), was a major reason for Russell to change his strategy.
Too bad, since it really hurts the overall quality of the autobiography. The first two volumes easily deserve the full five star rating, yet the third volume deserves not more than three stars (at most).
In all, I can recommend this book to anyone interested in personal stories, biographies, or in general the radical changes in the twentieth century. Here are the personal musings and thoughts of a man who lived the last three decades of the nineteenth century, lived through two World Wars and a roaring period in between, and died at the time when the Cold War was still full blown on. Against these historical backgrounds, you'll witness the growth of a human being - a man full of deep thoughts and feelings, of sufferings and pains, but also of happiness and love of mankind. With Rousseau, this is probably the best autobiography I've ever read!
And this is sad, since the most touching moments - especially personal letters - of the book are when Russell personally reflects and reminisces on his childhood and his early career as a philosopher and mathematician. He was a passionate man, tending towards mysticism in his younger years, yet gradually losing all hopes of finding any certain truths - his latter years are more pessimistic (fearing a nuclear war and the subsequent destruction of mankind) and more skeptic. The way Russell describes persons and events of his life, using his wit and emotional insights, is truly wonderful. As a reader, you'll get swept along and feel you are taking part in the life of a man who embodied the radical changes that took place during his (long) life.
In his later years Russell felt more and more that now there was a new world, and at times wondered why he was still part of it. (This kind of deep reflection and sadness was part of Russell's life - he lived through multiple suicidal phases.) His grandfather met Napoleon Bonaparte in person, and Russell's own first three decades took place in the nineteenth century. Although he had a keen eye in predicting world events (for example the First World War, Hitler and Stalin, as well as the A-bomb) - showing us that he did adapt continuously to these roaring times - he did feel slightly alienated and depressed at the end of his life. Which was countered by his fourth love - supposedly the fullest love he ever experienced - showing us that the abstract philosopher was in other terms a worldly man of flesh and blood: he was married three times and had a whole string of liaisons.
As mentioned, the final third of this book (Volume III) was written in 1969-1970 (the latter being the year he died) and as he mentions in the preface to this volume, will not offer much personal information about relatives, friends, colleagues, etc. Instead of this - which made volumes I and II so superb - we get page after page on Russell's exploits in international relations, his travels with his third wife, his publications, etc. I found these things less interesting and more distant from Russell's personal life and was rather disappointed with his approach to this third volume. Allegedly, the fact that he would have to describe his last 20-30 years, all recent events, involving many people still alive (at the time of publication), was a major reason for Russell to change his strategy.
Too bad, since it really hurts the overall quality of the autobiography. The first two volumes easily deserve the full five star rating, yet the third volume deserves not more than three stars (at most).
In all, I can recommend this book to anyone interested in personal stories, biographies, or in general the radical changes in the twentieth century. Here are the personal musings and thoughts of a man who lived the last three decades of the nineteenth century, lived through two World Wars and a roaring period in between, and died at the time when the Cold War was still full blown on. Against these historical backgrounds, you'll witness the growth of a human being - a man full of deep thoughts and feelings, of sufferings and pains, but also of happiness and love of mankind. With Rousseau, this is probably the best autobiography I've ever read!
April 30, 2019
Undoubtedly, Bertrand Russel is a legendary figure in the field of philosophy and literature. His views on politics, sex and literature have made him a legendary and most influential figure of the twentieth century.
His views were something different than the other writers. He has done a remarkable job in mathematical philosophy as well. His autobiography shows his personal p[ersepctive about writing these things.
His views were something different than the other writers. He has done a remarkable job in mathematical philosophy as well. His autobiography shows his personal p[ersepctive about writing these things.
July 25, 2007
One may hypothesize that all works of philosophy are in essence works of self-reflection. From blatant examples such as Augustine's "Confessions" to more subtle parts of Descartes' "Meditations," philosophers have often used their own experiences to help us understand the world we live in. In this sense, we can contrast to the former works the works of philosophers such as Aristotle or Heidegger who shy away from using the first person and deal with subject matters not only strictly of interest to the writer, but which seek to gain popular understanding. Bertrand Russell is a curious mixture of the two approaches. His committment to objectivity and to rigorous thought that is arguably impossible without a certain degree of "common ground" frequently seems to overshadow his own subjectivist foundations in which he approaches the questions of philosophy. In what is perhaps the most powerful two pages of the book, at the introduction, Russell outlines three primary principles that have motivitated him to do what he did in life. In a sense, then, the autobiography provides the reader with comforting answers as to why anybody would wish to live such an amazing life. In this sense, it is perhaps Russell's most self-reflective work of philosophy. The book is entertaining, the stories enjoyable, and the message deeply profound: how Russell came to appreciate the fields that he was interested in, and how he found the principles that guided his life. He had also been kind enough, in the edition I read, to include copies of letters of correspondence and pages from his diary as a youth. While this may have been motivated by a less-than-humble desire to provide future scholars with primary source material to study himself, they are themselves works of philosophy, and many of the doubts about life Russell struggled with as a youth strike a chord in all of us. Indeed, Russell's Autobiography is an entertaining and personally illuminating approach to one of the most fundamental philosophical questions of how one's life is to be lead.
July 31, 2019
乇丕爻賱 丿乇 亘蹖賵诏乇丕賮蹖 丕卮 诏賮鬲賴 亘乇丕蹖 趩賴 夭蹖爻鬲賴 丕賲 責
诏夭蹖丿赖
爻賴 卮賵賯 爻丕丿賴 貙 賵賱蹖 賯丕賴乇 賵 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿 貙 亘乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲賳 賮乇賲丕賳 乇丕賳丿賴 丕賳丿 :听
"蹖讴蹖 "爻賵丿丕蹖 毓卮賯" 貙 蹖讴蹖 "胤賱亘 丿丕賳卮" 賵 丿蹖诏乇丕丨爻丕爻蹖 鬲丨賲賱 賳丕倬匕蹖乇 丕夭 卮賮賯鬲 賵 "賴賲丿乇丿蹖 亘丕 丌賱丕賲 亘卮乇蹖 .
丕蹖賳 爻賴 丨爻 貙 趩賵賳 亘丕丿賴丕蹖 鬲賳丿 貙 賲乇丕 禺賵丿 爻乇丕賳賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 爻賵蹖 賵 丌賳爻賵蹖 讴卮丕賳丿賴 听賵 亘乇 丕賯蹖丕賳賵爻蹖 丕夭 睾賲 鬲丕 賱亘 诏乇丿丕亘 賳賵賲蹖丿蹖 倬蹖卮 乇丕賳丿賴 丕賳丿 .
賳禺爻鬲 噩賵蹖丕蹖 毓卮賯 亘賵丿賴 丕賲 貙 丕夭 丌賳讴賴 毓卮賯 貙 賵噩丿 賵 卮丕丿蹖 賲蹖 丌賮乇蹖賳丿 貙 賵噩丿蹖 丌賳趩賳丕賳 跇乇賮 讴賴 丨丕囟乇 亘賵丿賴 丕賲 亘乇丕蹖 亘丿爻鬲 丌賵乇丿賳 趩賳丿 爻丕毓鬲 丕夭 丌賳 卮丕丿蹖 卮诏賮鬲 貙 亘丕賯蹖 毓賲乇賲 乇丕 賳孬丕乇 讴賳賲 .丿蹖诏乇 亘丿丕賳 禺丕胤乇 讴賴 毓卮賯 丌丿賲蹖 貙 乇丕 丕夭 乇賳噩 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賲蹖 乇賴丕賳丿 貙 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賴賵賱賳丕讴蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 丕賳爻丕賳 貙 賱乇夭丕賳 賵 鬲乇爻丕賳 丿乇 賲乇夭 賴爻鬲蹖 貙 亘賴 丿乇賴 亘蹖 丕賳鬲賴丕蹖 賳蹖爻鬲蹖 賲蹖 賳诏乇丿 賵 亘乇 禺賵蹖卮鬲賳 賲蹖 賱乇夭丿 .爻乇丕賳噩丕賲 毓卮賯 乇丕 亘丿丕賳 禺丕胤乇 噩賵蹖丕 亘賵丿賴 丕賲 讴賴 丿乇 丕鬲丨丕丿 毓卮賯 貙 亘賴卮鬲蹖 乇丕 讴賴 丿乇 禺蹖丕賱 賯丿蹖爻丕賳 賵 卮丕毓乇丕賳 诏匕卮鬲賴 丕爻鬲 貙 丿乇 蹖讴 賲蹖賳蹖丕鬲賵乇 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 亘賴 趩卮賲 丿蹖丿賴 丕賲 .丕蹖賳賴丕爻鬲 丌賳趩賴 丿乇 毓卮賯 噩爻鬲噩賵 讴乇丿賴 賵 蹖丕賮鬲賴 丕賲 貙 賴乇 趩賳丿 讴賴 毓卮賯 丕夭 丌賳 禺賵亘 鬲乇 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘丕 夭賳丿诏蹖 丌丿賲蹖丕賳 丿乇 丌賲蹖夭丿 .听
丿丕賳卮 乇丕 賳蹖夭 亘丕 賴賲蹖賳 卮賵賯 賵 卮賵乇 胤賱亘 讴乇丿賴 丕賲 賵 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 丌乇夭賵 丿丕卮鬲賴 丕賲 讴賴 丕夭 乇丕夭 丿賱 丌丿賲蹖 亘丕 禺亘乇 卮賵賲 賵 爻乇 鬲丕亘卮 爻鬲丕乇诏丕賳 乇丕 丿乇蹖丕亘賲 賵 讴賵卮蹖丿賴 丕賲 鬲丕 丕毓丿丕丿 賮蹖孬丕睾賵乇孬蹖 乇丕 讴賴 亘乇 噩賴丕賳 讴賵賳 賵 賮爻丕丿 丨丕讴賲賳丿 亘卮賳丕爻賲 . 賵 丿乇 丕蹖賳 乇丕賴 亘賴 丕賳丿讴 亘賴乇賴 丕蹖 丿爻鬲 蹖丕賮鬲賲 .
毓卮賯 賵 丿丕賳卮 貙 丕蹖賳 丿賵 卮賵賯 賳禺爻鬲 貙 亘丿丕賳 賯丿乇 讴賴 丕夭 丌賳賴丕 亘賴乇賴 蹖丕賮鬲賲 貙 賲乇丕 亘賴 爻賵蹖 丌爻賲丕賳 爻賵賯 丿丕丿賴 丕賳丿 貙 丕賲丕 丕丨爻丕爻 卮賮賯鬲 賵 賴賲丿乇丿蹖 亘丕 乇賳噩賴丕蹖 丌丿賲蹖丕賳 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 賲乇丕 亘賴 夭賲蹖賳 亘丕夭 诏乇丿丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲 . 倬跇賵丕讴 賮乇蹖丕丿賴丕蹖 丿乇丿丌賱賵丿 丿乇 賯賱亘賲 亘賴 丕賴鬲夭丕夭 賲蹖 丌蹖丿 . 讴賵丿讴丕賳 賯丨胤蹖 夭丿賴 貙 賯乇亘丕賳蹖丕賳 卮讴賳噩賴 賴丕蹖 噩賱丕丿丕賳 爻鬲賲讴丕乇 貙 讴賴賳爻丕賱丕賳 賳丕鬲賵丕賳 賵 亘蹖趩丕乇賴 丕蹖 讴賴 禺賵丿 乇丕 亘丕乇 賲賳賮賵乇蹖 亘乇 丿賵卮 賮乇夭賳丿丕賳 丕丨爻丕爻 賲蹖 讴賳賳丿 賵 鬲賲丕賲蹖 丿賳蹖丕蹖 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賵 賮賯乇 賵 乇賳噩 貙 胤賳夭 鬲賱禺蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丌乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 亘賱賳丿 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 乇丕 乇蹖卮禺賳丿 賲蹖 讴賳丿 . 丿乇 丿賱賲 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕夭 卮丿鬲 乇賳噩賴丕賵 讴孬乇鬲 卮乇賵乇 丿乇 噩賴丕賳 亘讴丕賴賲 . 丕賲丕 鬲賵賮蹖賯蹖 賳蹖丕賮鬲賴 丕賲 賵 禺賵丿 賳蹖夭 丕夭 丕蹖賳 卮乇賵乇 賵 亘丿蹖賴丕 乇賳噩 亘乇丿賴 丕賲 .
丕蹖賳 乇丕賴蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲賳 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 倬蹖賲賵丿賴 丕賲 賵 丌賳 乇丕 卮丕蹖爻鬲賴 夭蹖爻鬲賳 蹖丕賮鬲賴 丕賲 賵 丕诏乇 亘丕乇 丿蹖诏乇 賲賵賴亘鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖 毓胤丕蹖賲 卮賵丿 亘丕 禺賵卮丨丕賱蹖 賴賲蹖賳 乇丕賴 乇丕 禺賵丕賴賲 倬蹖賲賵丿 .
听 馃崈馃尵馃尭馃崈馃尵馃尭听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
亘乇 诏乇賮鬲賴 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 " 365 乇賵夭 亘丕 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 " 丿讴鬲乇 丕賱賴蹖 賯賲卮賴 丕蹖
诏夭蹖丿赖
爻賴 卮賵賯 爻丕丿賴 貙 賵賱蹖 賯丕賴乇 賵 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿 貙 亘乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲賳 賮乇賲丕賳 乇丕賳丿賴 丕賳丿 :听
"蹖讴蹖 "爻賵丿丕蹖 毓卮賯" 貙 蹖讴蹖 "胤賱亘 丿丕賳卮" 賵 丿蹖诏乇丕丨爻丕爻蹖 鬲丨賲賱 賳丕倬匕蹖乇 丕夭 卮賮賯鬲 賵 "賴賲丿乇丿蹖 亘丕 丌賱丕賲 亘卮乇蹖 .
丕蹖賳 爻賴 丨爻 貙 趩賵賳 亘丕丿賴丕蹖 鬲賳丿 貙 賲乇丕 禺賵丿 爻乇丕賳賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 爻賵蹖 賵 丌賳爻賵蹖 讴卮丕賳丿賴 听賵 亘乇 丕賯蹖丕賳賵爻蹖 丕夭 睾賲 鬲丕 賱亘 诏乇丿丕亘 賳賵賲蹖丿蹖 倬蹖卮 乇丕賳丿賴 丕賳丿 .
賳禺爻鬲 噩賵蹖丕蹖 毓卮賯 亘賵丿賴 丕賲 貙 丕夭 丌賳讴賴 毓卮賯 貙 賵噩丿 賵 卮丕丿蹖 賲蹖 丌賮乇蹖賳丿 貙 賵噩丿蹖 丌賳趩賳丕賳 跇乇賮 讴賴 丨丕囟乇 亘賵丿賴 丕賲 亘乇丕蹖 亘丿爻鬲 丌賵乇丿賳 趩賳丿 爻丕毓鬲 丕夭 丌賳 卮丕丿蹖 卮诏賮鬲 貙 亘丕賯蹖 毓賲乇賲 乇丕 賳孬丕乇 讴賳賲 .丿蹖诏乇 亘丿丕賳 禺丕胤乇 讴賴 毓卮賯 丌丿賲蹖 貙 乇丕 丕夭 乇賳噩 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賲蹖 乇賴丕賳丿 貙 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賴賵賱賳丕讴蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 丕賳爻丕賳 貙 賱乇夭丕賳 賵 鬲乇爻丕賳 丿乇 賲乇夭 賴爻鬲蹖 貙 亘賴 丿乇賴 亘蹖 丕賳鬲賴丕蹖 賳蹖爻鬲蹖 賲蹖 賳诏乇丿 賵 亘乇 禺賵蹖卮鬲賳 賲蹖 賱乇夭丿 .爻乇丕賳噩丕賲 毓卮賯 乇丕 亘丿丕賳 禺丕胤乇 噩賵蹖丕 亘賵丿賴 丕賲 讴賴 丿乇 丕鬲丨丕丿 毓卮賯 貙 亘賴卮鬲蹖 乇丕 讴賴 丿乇 禺蹖丕賱 賯丿蹖爻丕賳 賵 卮丕毓乇丕賳 诏匕卮鬲賴 丕爻鬲 貙 丿乇 蹖讴 賲蹖賳蹖丕鬲賵乇 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 亘賴 趩卮賲 丿蹖丿賴 丕賲 .丕蹖賳賴丕爻鬲 丌賳趩賴 丿乇 毓卮賯 噩爻鬲噩賵 讴乇丿賴 賵 蹖丕賮鬲賴 丕賲 貙 賴乇 趩賳丿 讴賴 毓卮賯 丕夭 丌賳 禺賵亘 鬲乇 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘丕 夭賳丿诏蹖 丌丿賲蹖丕賳 丿乇 丌賲蹖夭丿 .听
丿丕賳卮 乇丕 賳蹖夭 亘丕 賴賲蹖賳 卮賵賯 賵 卮賵乇 胤賱亘 讴乇丿賴 丕賲 賵 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 丌乇夭賵 丿丕卮鬲賴 丕賲 讴賴 丕夭 乇丕夭 丿賱 丌丿賲蹖 亘丕 禺亘乇 卮賵賲 賵 爻乇 鬲丕亘卮 爻鬲丕乇诏丕賳 乇丕 丿乇蹖丕亘賲 賵 讴賵卮蹖丿賴 丕賲 鬲丕 丕毓丿丕丿 賮蹖孬丕睾賵乇孬蹖 乇丕 讴賴 亘乇 噩賴丕賳 讴賵賳 賵 賮爻丕丿 丨丕讴賲賳丿 亘卮賳丕爻賲 . 賵 丿乇 丕蹖賳 乇丕賴 亘賴 丕賳丿讴 亘賴乇賴 丕蹖 丿爻鬲 蹖丕賮鬲賲 .
毓卮賯 賵 丿丕賳卮 貙 丕蹖賳 丿賵 卮賵賯 賳禺爻鬲 貙 亘丿丕賳 賯丿乇 讴賴 丕夭 丌賳賴丕 亘賴乇賴 蹖丕賮鬲賲 貙 賲乇丕 亘賴 爻賵蹖 丌爻賲丕賳 爻賵賯 丿丕丿賴 丕賳丿 貙 丕賲丕 丕丨爻丕爻 卮賮賯鬲 賵 賴賲丿乇丿蹖 亘丕 乇賳噩賴丕蹖 丌丿賲蹖丕賳 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 賲乇丕 亘賴 夭賲蹖賳 亘丕夭 诏乇丿丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲 . 倬跇賵丕讴 賮乇蹖丕丿賴丕蹖 丿乇丿丌賱賵丿 丿乇 賯賱亘賲 亘賴 丕賴鬲夭丕夭 賲蹖 丌蹖丿 . 讴賵丿讴丕賳 賯丨胤蹖 夭丿賴 貙 賯乇亘丕賳蹖丕賳 卮讴賳噩賴 賴丕蹖 噩賱丕丿丕賳 爻鬲賲讴丕乇 貙 讴賴賳爻丕賱丕賳 賳丕鬲賵丕賳 賵 亘蹖趩丕乇賴 丕蹖 讴賴 禺賵丿 乇丕 亘丕乇 賲賳賮賵乇蹖 亘乇 丿賵卮 賮乇夭賳丿丕賳 丕丨爻丕爻 賲蹖 讴賳賳丿 賵 鬲賲丕賲蹖 丿賳蹖丕蹖 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賵 賮賯乇 賵 乇賳噩 貙 胤賳夭 鬲賱禺蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丌乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 亘賱賳丿 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 乇丕 乇蹖卮禺賳丿 賲蹖 讴賳丿 . 丿乇 丿賱賲 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕夭 卮丿鬲 乇賳噩賴丕賵 讴孬乇鬲 卮乇賵乇 丿乇 噩賴丕賳 亘讴丕賴賲 . 丕賲丕 鬲賵賮蹖賯蹖 賳蹖丕賮鬲賴 丕賲 賵 禺賵丿 賳蹖夭 丕夭 丕蹖賳 卮乇賵乇 賵 亘丿蹖賴丕 乇賳噩 亘乇丿賴 丕賲 .
丕蹖賳 乇丕賴蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲賳 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 倬蹖賲賵丿賴 丕賲 賵 丌賳 乇丕 卮丕蹖爻鬲賴 夭蹖爻鬲賳 蹖丕賮鬲賴 丕賲 賵 丕诏乇 亘丕乇 丿蹖诏乇 賲賵賴亘鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖 毓胤丕蹖賲 卮賵丿 亘丕 禺賵卮丨丕賱蹖 賴賲蹖賳 乇丕賴 乇丕 禺賵丕賴賲 倬蹖賲賵丿 .
听 馃崈馃尵馃尭馃崈馃尵馃尭听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
亘乇 诏乇賮鬲賴 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 " 365 乇賵夭 亘丕 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 " 丿讴鬲乇 丕賱賴蹖 賯賲卮賴 丕蹖
October 29, 2009
The Founding Fathers obviously placed a high value on happiness or they wouldn't have insisted on pursuit of it as a basic right in a major American document. Bertrand Russell, who already as an adolescent was trying to reconcile the meaning of life and the role of reason, adopted a Millian (if that's a word) premise to "act in a manner. . . to be most likely to produce the greatest happiness, considering both the intensity of the happiness and the number of people made happy." In The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, volume I, Conscience, he argued, was too dependent upon education, a product a evolution and education, and therefore "it is an absurdity to follow that rather than reason." The inherited part "can only be principles leading to the preservation of the species" and the education part of conscience is derived from the same imparted wisdom that "made Bloody Mary burn the Protestants." Russell was good friends with Alfred Whitehead who was a teacher and mentor to him, although in later years to parted on aspects of their philosophies. He perceived Whitehead as having the qualities of a perfect teacher: "He took a interest in those with whom he had to deal and knew both their strong and weak points. He would elicit from a pupil the best of which a pupil was capable. He was never repressive, or sarcastic or any of those things that inferior teachers like to be. I think that in all the abler young men with whom he came in contact, he inspired, as he did in me, a very real and lasting affection."
Russell's comments about people he met and his friends were amusingly perspicacious. "My impression of the old families of Philadelphia Quakers was that they had all the effeteness of a small aristocracy. Old misers of ninety would sit brooding over their hoard while their children of sixty or seventy waited for their death with what patience they could command. Various forms of mental disorder appeared common. Those who must be accounted sane were apt to be very stupid."
It was while in the midst of writing his great Principia Mathematica that he had a revelation that was to alter his life. Alfred Whitehead's wife was in severe pain from a heart condition and while attending to her he came to the following reflections: "the loneliness of the human soul in unendurable; nothing can penetrate it except the highest intensity of the sort that religious teachers have preached; whatever does not spring from this motive is harmful, or at best war is wrong, that a public school [the English public school is the equivalent of an American private school:] is abominable, that the use of force is to be deprecated, and that in relations one should penetrate to the core of loneliness in each person and speak to that. . . . cared only for exactness and analysis, I found myself filled with semi-mystical feelings about beauty, with an intense interest in children, and with some desire almost as profound as that of the Buddha to find some philosophy which should make life endurable."
Russell's comments about people he met and his friends were amusingly perspicacious. "My impression of the old families of Philadelphia Quakers was that they had all the effeteness of a small aristocracy. Old misers of ninety would sit brooding over their hoard while their children of sixty or seventy waited for their death with what patience they could command. Various forms of mental disorder appeared common. Those who must be accounted sane were apt to be very stupid."
It was while in the midst of writing his great Principia Mathematica that he had a revelation that was to alter his life. Alfred Whitehead's wife was in severe pain from a heart condition and while attending to her he came to the following reflections: "the loneliness of the human soul in unendurable; nothing can penetrate it except the highest intensity of the sort that religious teachers have preached; whatever does not spring from this motive is harmful, or at best war is wrong, that a public school [the English public school is the equivalent of an American private school:] is abominable, that the use of force is to be deprecated, and that in relations one should penetrate to the core of loneliness in each person and speak to that. . . . cared only for exactness and analysis, I found myself filled with semi-mystical feelings about beauty, with an intense interest in children, and with some desire almost as profound as that of the Buddha to find some philosophy which should make life endurable."
March 31, 2010
The first two volumes are the best, very good reading.
The third volume is quite a bit dryer, and doesn't have the personal details that make the other volumes so interesting. Still, I recommend the whole thing very highly.
The third volume is quite a bit dryer, and doesn't have the personal details that make the other volumes so interesting. Still, I recommend the whole thing very highly.
December 13, 2012
One of the funniest books I've ever read - partially intended by Russell, partly unintentional, which makes it even funnier. Don't wait until you are 60 as I did or 90 as my father did to read it (although the dirty bits are wonderfully enjoyable to a 90-year-old man, should you ever be at a loss for what to read to him. Particularly funny is Russell's upbringing (by the much-younger wife of his grandfather, the former PM, and his aunt - who are masters of guilt-induction, sexual guilt and random rules of conduct (Don't you know that you should never talk about any fractions except halves and quarters? - it is pedantic!" she told little Bertrand. "How like his father!: she said, turning to my Aunt Maude.") Russell slyly boasts about his sexcapades, apologizes for criticizing his first wife ("my self-righteousness at the time seems to me in retrospect to be repulsive") before sharing at length with the reader the "substantial grounds for my criticisms." There are wonderful encounters with Santayana (who wanted to get his underwear from his Paris apartment before the Boche destroyed the city, and with it the Parisians and a ms Santayana had been working on for 10 years ("I care more for my underwear"), of Joseph Conrad, the man whom BR most admired and thought resembled him (hah!), DH Lawrence (BH gives a vivid picture of what it was like to be the object of DHL's sudden crazes), Whitehead, Ottoline Morrell, TS Eliot (he hints at an affaire between himself and Vivienne), Wittgenstein, and many others. He comes across as sound on Lenin and Bolshevism ("a new aristocracy even more cruel than the old one, but in this case the artistocrats are a group of Americanized Russian Jews"), explains his opposition to WWI, support for WWII and suggestion that the US nuke the USSR in 1948.
Most of all it shows how a brilliant man can waste the vast majority of his life trying to persaude others to change their minds about politics.
Most of all it shows how a brilliant man can waste the vast majority of his life trying to persaude others to change their minds about politics.
September 7, 2014
I read this book because I wanted to find the impetus behind the passions of such a relentless activist for Peace and Logic. Russell is one of my favorite philosophers. And this books fairly describes the values he held dear, and the events that effected his intellectual development. I find it hard to write about him. He is very raw and open about himself, just the way he is about everything else. the chapters about his early life are most charming and very engrossing. This is a fine book for anyone interested in the philosophy of Russell or in him as person. His attitude towards love is admirable. This quote is how he ends his autobiography.
"I have lived in the pursuit of a vision both personal and social.
Personal:To care for what is noble, what is beautiful, for what is gentle.
Social:To see in imagination the society that is to be created, where individuals grow freely, and where hate and greed and envy die because there is nothing to nourish them. These things I believe, and the world, for all its horrors, has left me unshaken."
"I have lived in the pursuit of a vision both personal and social.
Personal:To care for what is noble, what is beautiful, for what is gentle.
Social:To see in imagination the society that is to be created, where individuals grow freely, and where hate and greed and envy die because there is nothing to nourish them. These things I believe, and the world, for all its horrors, has left me unshaken."
January 20, 2008
russell's prologue is exquisite, near perfect. a remarkable man.
"three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind...."
"three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind...."
September 14, 2012
I became interested in Russell as a peace activist while still in high school. Later my best friend spent a college year abroad at the University of Kent in Canterbury, dating Lucy, one of Russell's grand-daughters while there. Returned, he read The History of Western Philosophy, highly recommending it. By then I'd become exposed to the philosopher/mathematician's reputation and intended to study him. Years later, having read a bit, espying the autobiography on sale at a used bookstore, I purchased the three volumes and got to carrying them regularly to the local cafe. Their contents surprised me.
I had expected a lot about The Principia, more about his philosophical beliefs. But most of the books concerned his family, his personal life, his romances, politics and educational beliefs.
I had expected a lot about The Principia, more about his philosophical beliefs. But most of the books concerned his family, his personal life, his romances, politics and educational beliefs.
September 23, 2014
Few human beings have had the kind of life Bertrand Russell has had. He was a thinker, a philosopher, a mathematician, a progressive and an activist. As a journalist he has lived through some of the most important eras in human history and actually engaged with it to the point where he almost can be called proto-Gonzo. His writings are loaded with cleverness, witticism, and charm, and are relevant nearly a century after they were written. And to top it all off, he lived to be almost 100, so it would be an understatement to say that he had a lot to write about. With that in mind, I expected Bertrand Russell鈥檚 autobiography to be the autobiography to end all autobiographies. And it might have been this unrealistically high bar which caused me to being so disappointed in this book.
It鈥檚 not that in his lengthy (over 700 pages!) autobiography doesn鈥檛 offer an interesting look back at the milestones of his life, it鈥檚 that such precious little of the book is actually devoted to this. In fact, it鈥檚 safe to say that Bertrand Russell鈥檚 autobiography consists mostly of letters he both wrote and received. Spanning the majority of his life (this autobiography was finished when Russell was at the ripe old age of 97鈥揳 year before he passed), this book is, as expected, full of anecdotes about his life and career. And indeed, it鈥檚 here that the book shines, as Russell is able to look back on these events mostly in a funny and entertaining way. The bad news is that at the end of each chapter we are inundated with page after page of letters (even those which other people wrote to him), which often outnumber the 鈥渁utobiographical鈥� section of the chapters themselves. These letters, on the other hand, are mostly boring as they focus on the minutia of his daily life, or are from individuals we don鈥檛 know or remember, or are about accounts we don鈥檛 care about. So it鈥檚 not that Bertrand Russell鈥檚 written autobiography is a boring book, it鈥檚 that he has supplemented the different eras of his life with tedious letters.
In addition, it鈥檚 interesting to notice what Russell has chosen to extrapolate on and talk about in depth, as there is very little here about his brother and grandmother鈥檚 deaths and his relationships after his first wife Alys: in short, anyone with whom he has had a strong personal relationship.
So after putting in so much effort, the reader feels cheated because we are dealing with the stories of one of history鈥檚 most interesting human beings. Russell鈥檚 Autobiography does indeed have shining moments, but unfortunately with the sheer amount of filler they come too few and far in between.
It鈥檚 not that in his lengthy (over 700 pages!) autobiography doesn鈥檛 offer an interesting look back at the milestones of his life, it鈥檚 that such precious little of the book is actually devoted to this. In fact, it鈥檚 safe to say that Bertrand Russell鈥檚 autobiography consists mostly of letters he both wrote and received. Spanning the majority of his life (this autobiography was finished when Russell was at the ripe old age of 97鈥揳 year before he passed), this book is, as expected, full of anecdotes about his life and career. And indeed, it鈥檚 here that the book shines, as Russell is able to look back on these events mostly in a funny and entertaining way. The bad news is that at the end of each chapter we are inundated with page after page of letters (even those which other people wrote to him), which often outnumber the 鈥渁utobiographical鈥� section of the chapters themselves. These letters, on the other hand, are mostly boring as they focus on the minutia of his daily life, or are from individuals we don鈥檛 know or remember, or are about accounts we don鈥檛 care about. So it鈥檚 not that Bertrand Russell鈥檚 written autobiography is a boring book, it鈥檚 that he has supplemented the different eras of his life with tedious letters.
In addition, it鈥檚 interesting to notice what Russell has chosen to extrapolate on and talk about in depth, as there is very little here about his brother and grandmother鈥檚 deaths and his relationships after his first wife Alys: in short, anyone with whom he has had a strong personal relationship.
So after putting in so much effort, the reader feels cheated because we are dealing with the stories of one of history鈥檚 most interesting human beings. Russell鈥檚 Autobiography does indeed have shining moments, but unfortunately with the sheer amount of filler they come too few and far in between.
April 8, 2007
Great thinker and it really captures a very different time in society.
July 30, 2021
爻賷乇丞 匕丕鬲賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞 賵爻賱爻丞 賵賴賷 賲賰賵賳丞 賲賳 孬賱丕孬丞 兀噩夭丕亍 賵賱賰賳賷 賱賲 兀噩丿 爻賵賶 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱兀賵賱 賲賳賴丕 賲鬲乇噩賲丕賸 賵賴賵 亘丿亍賸 賲賳 胤賮賵賱鬲賴 丨鬲賶 亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賲丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶. 亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 亘噩丕賳亘 鬲賲賰賳賴 賵囟賱賵毓賴 賲賳 毓賱賲 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丕鬲 賵賮賱爻賮鬲賴丕貨 賮賴賵 囟賱賷毓 賮賷 丕賱兀丿亘 賵賷丨賮馗 丕賱毓丿賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賯氐丕卅丿 賲賲丕 丕賳毓賰爻 亘卮賰賱 賵丕囟丨 毓賱賶 賰鬲丕亘丕鬲賴 丕賱鬲賷 丕爻鬲丨賯 毓賱賷賴丕 噩丕卅夭丞 賳賵賷賱 賱賱丌丿丕亘. 賮賷 爻賷乇鬲賴 賰丕賳 氐乇賷丨丕 賵亘丿兀 睾乇賷亘丕賸 丕賴鬲賲丕賲賴 亘匕賰乇 鬲賮丕氐賷賱 毓丕卅賱賷丞 賵賰匕賱賰 丨丿賷孬賴 毓賳 丨賷丕鬲賴 丕賱噩賳爻賷丞 賵禺賱丕賮賴 賲毓 夭賵噩鬲賴 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賵賳賯丿賴 丕賱氐丕乇禺 賱丨賲丕鬲賴. 鬲鬲囟賲賳 丕賱賲匕賰乇丕鬲 賲賱丕丨賯 賰孬賷乇丞 賲賳 乇爻丕卅賱 賵睾賷乇賴丕 亘卮賰賱 賷丿毓賵 丕賱賯丕乇卅 賱賱賲賱賱. 鬲丨丿孬 賮賷 賮氐賱 賰丕賲賱 丨賵賱 賰鬲丕亘賴 "兀氐賵賱 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丕鬲" 賵兀馗賳 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 丕賱丿賯賷賯丞 賴賷 " 丕賱賲亘丕丿卅 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丞 " 兀賵 " 倬乇賳爻賷倬賷丕 賲丕孬賲丕鬲賷賰丕 " 賱兀賳 賰孬賷乇丕賸 賲丕賷鬲賵賴賲 丕賱亘毓囟 亘兀賳賴賲丕 賳賮爻 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 亘賷賳賲丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱兀賵賱 賯丿 賰鬲亘 乇丕爻賱 賲爻賵丿丕鬲賴 賯亘賱 夭賷丕乇鬲賴 賱兀賲乇賷賰丕 毓丕賲 1896 賵賴賳丕賰 丕賱鬲賯賶 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷 亘賷丕賳賵 賵兀賴丿丕賴 賰鬲丕亘賴 " 丕賱賲賳胤賯 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷" 賵丕賱匕賷 兀賰丿 賮賷賴 毓賱賶 兀賳 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丕鬲 賲丕賴賷 廿賱丕 氐賵乇丞 賲賳 氐賵乇 丕賱賲賳胤賯貙 賵賯丿 兀賮丕丿 乇丕爻賱 賲賳 兀賮賰丕乇 亘賷丕賳賵 . 孬賲 賮賷賲丕 亘毓丿 賮賷 毓丕賲 1900賲 丕卮鬲乇賰 賲毓 賵丕賷鬲賴賷丿 亘賰鬲丕亘丞 " 丕賱賲亘丕丿卅 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丞 ". 賵丕賱爻亘亘 丕賱匕賷 丨賲賱賳賷 毓賱賶 丕賱丕毓鬲賯丕丿 亘兀賳 乇丕爻賱 賰丕賳 賷賯氐丿 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賱丕 丕賱兀賵賱 賱兀賳賴 鬲丨丿孬 賮賷 匕賱賰 丕賱賮氐賱 毓賳 丕賱鬲毓亘 丕賱匕賷 賳丕賱賴 賲毓 賵丕賷鬲賴賷丿 賵賳賮爻賷鬲賴 丕賱賲囟胤乇亘丞 賵夭賵噩鬲賴 丕賱賲氐丕亘丞 亘賳賵亘丕鬲 賴賱毓.
亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 爻賱賷賱 賱兀爻乇鬲賷賳 丕乇爻鬲賯乇丕胤賷鬲賷賳. 賮賴賵 丨賮賷丿 丕賱賱賵乇丿 噩賵賳 乇丕爻賱 丕賱匕賷 鬲賵賱賶 乇卅丕爻丞 賵夭乇丕亍 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 賱賲乇鬲賷賳 亘胤賱亘 賲賳 丕賱賲賱賰丞 賮賷賰鬲賵乇賷丕. 賵賵丕賱丿賴 賲賮賰乇 賲賱丨丿 賵氐丿賷賯 丨賲賷賲 賱賱賮賷爻賱賵賮 爻賷鬲賵丕乇鬲 賲賷賱 賵賰匕賱賰 夭賵噩鬲賴 賵丕賱丿丞 亘賷乇鬲乇丕賳丿. 鬲賵賮賷鬲 賵丕賱丿鬲賴 孬賲 亘毓丿賴丕 亘爻賳丞 鬲賵賮賷 賵丕賱丿賴 亘毓丿賲丕 噩毓賱 賵氐丕賷丞 丕亘賳賴 亘賷乇丕鬲乇丕賳丿 賵兀禺賷賴 賱賲賱丨丿賷賳 丕孬賳賷賳 賲賲丕 兀孬丕乇 丨賮賷馗丞 丕賱噩丿丞 賮爻丕乇毓鬲 亘噩毓賱 丕賱賵氐丕賷丞 賮賷 毓賴丿鬲賴丕貙 賵賰丕賳 丕賱亘賷鬲 爻賷丕爻賷 亘丕賲鬲賷丕夭 賵賰匕賱賰 毓賱賲賷 賵兀丿亘賷 賮賰丕賳 賴賳丕賰 毓賲 賵毓賲丞 賲賴鬲賲賷賳 亘丕賱毓賱賲 賵丕賱兀丿亘 賮兀孬乇賵丕 賵毓賱賲賵丕 乇丕爻賱 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賵賰丕賳鬲 賲賰鬲亘丞 噩丿賴 丕賱賱賵乇丿 乇丕爻賱 睾乇賮丞 丿乇丕爻鬲賴 賰賲丕 賷賯賵賱. 鬲鬲賲賷夭 毓丕卅賱鬲賴 賱兀賲賴 亘鬲賳賵毓賴丕 丕賱毓賯丕卅丿賷 賵丕賱賮賰乇賷 廿匕 兀賳 禺丕賱 亘乇丕鬲乇丕賳丿 丕賱兀賰亘乇 賴賳乇賷 賲爻賱賲 賵丕賱丌禺乇 賯爻 賵丕賱孬丕賱孬 賳丕賯丿 卮乇爻 賱賱賰賳賷爻丞 賵賴賰匕丕. 賮爻丕賴賲鬲 賳賯丕卮丕鬲賴賲 賵噩乇兀鬲賴賲 賮賷 胤乇丨 兀賮賰丕乇賴賲 亘卮賰賱 賰亘賷乇 賮賷 亘賳丕亍 卮禺氐賷丞 乇丕爻賱 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 禺噩賵賱丞. 賵賰丕賳 賱噩丿丞 乇丕爻賱 賱兀賲賴 丿賷賵丕賳 賷兀鬲賷賴 賰亘丕乇 賲賮賰乇賵 丕賱亘賱丿 賵兀丿亘丕丐賴. 賷毓夭賵 乇丕爻賱 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賮囟賱 賱兀爻乇鬲賴 賱賵丕賱丿鬲賴 賮賷賲丕 賵氐賱 廿賱賷賴. 賵賰丕賳鬲 兀爻乇鬲賴 丿丕毓賲丞 賱丨賯賵賯 丕賱賲乇兀丞 毓賱賶 丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 氐賱丕鬲賴丕 丕賱賵孬賷賯丞 亘丕賱賲賱賰丞 賮賷賰鬲賵乇賷丕 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 賲毓丕乇囟丞 卮乇爻丞- 賵賴賷 丕賲乇兀丞- 賱廿毓胤丕亍 丕賱賲乇兀丞 丨賯賵賯賴丕. 亘毓丿賲丕 賯丕賲 兀禺 亘賷鬲乇丕賳丿 丕賱兀賰亘乇 亘鬲毓賱賷賲賴 賵賴賵 賮賷 丕賱丨丕丿賷 毓卮乇 賲賳 丕賱毓賲乇 丕賱賴賳丿爻丞 丕賱丕賯賱賷丿賷丞 禺丕亘 乇噩丕丐賴 賮賷賴丕 賱丕賳胤賱丕賯賴丕 賲賳 亘丿賷賴賷丕鬲 賱丕 亘丿 賲賳 丕賱鬲爻賱賷賲 亘賴丕 丿賵賳 亘乇賴丕賳. 賵賴匕丕 賱賴 兀孬乇 賰亘賷乇 賮賷 丕賳卮睾丕賱 亘賷鬲乇丕賳丿 賮賷賲丕 亘毓丿 亘丿乇丕爻丞 賵賲毓丕賱噩丞 " 賲卮賰賱丞 丕賱兀爻爻 " 賮賷 丨賯賱 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丕鬲.
亘乇鬲乇丕賳丿 乇丕爻賱 爻賱賷賱 賱兀爻乇鬲賷賳 丕乇爻鬲賯乇丕胤賷鬲賷賳. 賮賴賵 丨賮賷丿 丕賱賱賵乇丿 噩賵賳 乇丕爻賱 丕賱匕賷 鬲賵賱賶 乇卅丕爻丞 賵夭乇丕亍 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 賱賲乇鬲賷賳 亘胤賱亘 賲賳 丕賱賲賱賰丞 賮賷賰鬲賵乇賷丕. 賵賵丕賱丿賴 賲賮賰乇 賲賱丨丿 賵氐丿賷賯 丨賲賷賲 賱賱賮賷爻賱賵賮 爻賷鬲賵丕乇鬲 賲賷賱 賵賰匕賱賰 夭賵噩鬲賴 賵丕賱丿丞 亘賷乇鬲乇丕賳丿. 鬲賵賮賷鬲 賵丕賱丿鬲賴 孬賲 亘毓丿賴丕 亘爻賳丞 鬲賵賮賷 賵丕賱丿賴 亘毓丿賲丕 噩毓賱 賵氐丕賷丞 丕亘賳賴 亘賷乇丕鬲乇丕賳丿 賵兀禺賷賴 賱賲賱丨丿賷賳 丕孬賳賷賳 賲賲丕 兀孬丕乇 丨賮賷馗丞 丕賱噩丿丞 賮爻丕乇毓鬲 亘噩毓賱 丕賱賵氐丕賷丞 賮賷 毓賴丿鬲賴丕貙 賵賰丕賳 丕賱亘賷鬲 爻賷丕爻賷 亘丕賲鬲賷丕夭 賵賰匕賱賰 毓賱賲賷 賵兀丿亘賷 賮賰丕賳 賴賳丕賰 毓賲 賵毓賲丞 賲賴鬲賲賷賳 亘丕賱毓賱賲 賵丕賱兀丿亘 賮兀孬乇賵丕 賵毓賱賲賵丕 乇丕爻賱 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賵賰丕賳鬲 賲賰鬲亘丞 噩丿賴 丕賱賱賵乇丿 乇丕爻賱 睾乇賮丞 丿乇丕爻鬲賴 賰賲丕 賷賯賵賱. 鬲鬲賲賷夭 毓丕卅賱鬲賴 賱兀賲賴 亘鬲賳賵毓賴丕 丕賱毓賯丕卅丿賷 賵丕賱賮賰乇賷 廿匕 兀賳 禺丕賱 亘乇丕鬲乇丕賳丿 丕賱兀賰亘乇 賴賳乇賷 賲爻賱賲 賵丕賱丌禺乇 賯爻 賵丕賱孬丕賱孬 賳丕賯丿 卮乇爻 賱賱賰賳賷爻丞 賵賴賰匕丕. 賮爻丕賴賲鬲 賳賯丕卮丕鬲賴賲 賵噩乇兀鬲賴賲 賮賷 胤乇丨 兀賮賰丕乇賴賲 亘卮賰賱 賰亘賷乇 賮賷 亘賳丕亍 卮禺氐賷丞 乇丕爻賱 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 禺噩賵賱丞. 賵賰丕賳 賱噩丿丞 乇丕爻賱 賱兀賲賴 丿賷賵丕賳 賷兀鬲賷賴 賰亘丕乇 賲賮賰乇賵 丕賱亘賱丿 賵兀丿亘丕丐賴. 賷毓夭賵 乇丕爻賱 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賮囟賱 賱兀爻乇鬲賴 賱賵丕賱丿鬲賴 賮賷賲丕 賵氐賱 廿賱賷賴. 賵賰丕賳鬲 兀爻乇鬲賴 丿丕毓賲丞 賱丨賯賵賯 丕賱賲乇兀丞 毓賱賶 丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 氐賱丕鬲賴丕 丕賱賵孬賷賯丞 亘丕賱賲賱賰丞 賮賷賰鬲賵乇賷丕 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 賲毓丕乇囟丞 卮乇爻丞- 賵賴賷 丕賲乇兀丞- 賱廿毓胤丕亍 丕賱賲乇兀丞 丨賯賵賯賴丕. 亘毓丿賲丕 賯丕賲 兀禺 亘賷鬲乇丕賳丿 丕賱兀賰亘乇 亘鬲毓賱賷賲賴 賵賴賵 賮賷 丕賱丨丕丿賷 毓卮乇 賲賳 丕賱毓賲乇 丕賱賴賳丿爻丞 丕賱丕賯賱賷丿賷丞 禺丕亘 乇噩丕丐賴 賮賷賴丕 賱丕賳胤賱丕賯賴丕 賲賳 亘丿賷賴賷丕鬲 賱丕 亘丿 賲賳 丕賱鬲爻賱賷賲 亘賴丕 丿賵賳 亘乇賴丕賳. 賵賴匕丕 賱賴 兀孬乇 賰亘賷乇 賮賷 丕賳卮睾丕賱 亘賷鬲乇丕賳丿 賮賷賲丕 亘毓丿 亘丿乇丕爻丞 賵賲毓丕賱噩丞 " 賲卮賰賱丞 丕賱兀爻爻 " 賮賷 丨賯賱 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丕鬲.
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June 6, 2016"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a great ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair.
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy - ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness--that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it finally, because in the union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though it might seem too good for human life, this is what--at last--I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which number holds sway above the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate this evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me. "
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy - ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness--that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it finally, because in the union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though it might seem too good for human life, this is what--at last--I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which number holds sway above the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate this evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me. "
April 24, 2016
This is one of the great autobiographies of all time, for its clarity and candor, for its amazing scope, for its cast of interesting characters. Russell was driven by logic. He could see the illogic, the absurdities, in the way the world operated. His refusal to compromise with those absurdities made him conspicuous, made him a great man. He believed that human suffering could best be relieved by putting the world on a logical, a rational, basis. But the world did not understand, still does not understand. Like most people ahead of their time, he was punished for his efforts.
My notebooks are rich with quotations from these three volumes. Whether your interest is psychology, education, war and peace, history, literature, whatever, you will find much food for thought in these books.
My notebooks are rich with quotations from these three volumes. Whether your interest is psychology, education, war and peace, history, literature, whatever, you will find much food for thought in these books.
December 2, 2020
讴鬲丕亘 賳爻亘鬲丕 禺賵亘蹖賴
丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丕讴孬乇 丕賮乇丕丿 賵 賲讴丕賳鈥屬囏� 丿乇 倬丕賵乇賯蹖 讴鬲丕亘 卮乇丨蹖 鬲賵爻胤 賲鬲乇噩賲 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 丕蹖賳鬲乇賳鬲蹖 賳亘賵丿賴 賵 噩爻鬲噩賵 爻禺鬲 亘賵丿賴 讴丕乇 亘夭乇诏蹖賴貙 賴乇趩賳丿 诏丕賴蹖 丕卮鬲亘丕賴丕鬲蹖 丿丕乇賴.
賵 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丕爻丕賲蹖 賴賲 丕賳诏丕乇 亘丕 鬲賱賮馗 賮乇丕賳爻賴 蹖丕 趩蹖夭蹖 卮亘蹖賴鈥屫� 賳賵卮鬲賴. 卮丕蹖丿 丕賵賳 夭賲丕賳 丕蹖賳胤賵乇蹖 賲乇爻賵賲 亘賵丿賴.鈥�
囟賲賳丕 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿 丕賵賱賴.
丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丕讴孬乇 丕賮乇丕丿 賵 賲讴丕賳鈥屬囏� 丿乇 倬丕賵乇賯蹖 讴鬲丕亘 卮乇丨蹖 鬲賵爻胤 賲鬲乇噩賲 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 丕蹖賳鬲乇賳鬲蹖 賳亘賵丿賴 賵 噩爻鬲噩賵 爻禺鬲 亘賵丿賴 讴丕乇 亘夭乇诏蹖賴貙 賴乇趩賳丿 诏丕賴蹖 丕卮鬲亘丕賴丕鬲蹖 丿丕乇賴.
賵 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丕爻丕賲蹖 賴賲 丕賳诏丕乇 亘丕 鬲賱賮馗 賮乇丕賳爻賴 蹖丕 趩蹖夭蹖 卮亘蹖賴鈥屫� 賳賵卮鬲賴. 卮丕蹖丿 丕賵賳 夭賲丕賳 丕蹖賳胤賵乇蹖 賲乇爻賵賲 亘賵丿賴.鈥�
囟賲賳丕 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿 丕賵賱賴.
October 20, 2019
兀賳賴賷鬲 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱兀賵賱 賮賯胤
賱賱兀爻賮 賱賲 兀噩丿 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賲賳 丕賱爻賷乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱廿賳鬲乇賳鬲 賵賱丕 丕賱賳爻禺丞 丕賱賵乇賯賷丞 賲賳賴丕 -賲賳 丕賱兀爻丕爻-.
賱賱兀爻賮 賱賲 兀噩丿 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賲賳 丕賱爻賷乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱廿賳鬲乇賳鬲 賵賱丕 丕賱賳爻禺丞 丕賱賵乇賯賷丞 賲賳賴丕 -賲賳 丕賱兀爻丕爻-.
July 1, 2021
In reckoning the man, I believe it would be fruitful to compare him to a scientist and mathematician of the same age.
Bertrand Russell was born into a wealthy and aristocratic family, with a long history of public office, in the late 19th century. His Grandfather was twice Prime minister, and his father was an Earl. The men and women whom he came into contact with in his early life shaped his future interests: Catholics, Quakers, Lutherans, Puritans, Buddhists, Darwinists, Atheists, Agnostics, Anarchists, Communists, Socialists, Liberals, Imperialists, Nationalists, Suffragettes, Irish Home Rule activists, Contraceptive activists, Free-Love activists, and various types of historians and philosophers; it is in this high minded environment of theories and spiritualities that Bertrand Russell narrates his formative youth. He was very well tutored, and by his adulthood he was fluent in the classical languages and thoroughly proficient in mathematics. After experiencing his first pubescent urges, he became obsessed with many of the Romantic poets, such as Shelley. Looking back, he explains, the sweet joy he would experience on reading such works of beauty were actually an outlet for his repressed sexual urges. He viewed himself and the various processes and peoples of his life through a high-minded theorising of various philosophies and ideas. It is no surprise that he became a philosopher and a mathematician. At least partly from his reading Mill, he was a proponent of women鈥檚 suffrage; and later, before the first World War, he became a pacifist, for which he was both politically and physically attacked.
I cannot speak on his philosophy with any sort of authority; however, I can do so with his mathematics. He was generally interested in the foundations of mathematics, and developing an abstract logical framework in which the ordinary mathematics of 1+1=2 may be logically and formally deduced. Again, it is to the abstract theorising that he normally gravitates. This possibly explains his lifelong feelings of loneliness that at various times drove him to thoughts of suicide. Surprisingly, he was not especially well read for his time; but he did have a deep understanding of those ideas he chose to speak of; which, combined with an unpretentious eloquence, produced a noble and progressive philosopher-writer. His History of Western Philosophy is excellent, although sometimes lacking in scope.
While reading of his travels in the US during WWII, during which he was hired as a sort of popular-philosophy lecturer for middle class workmen, it struck me at once that, at this exact time, Richard Feynman, a man born into poverty amidst the Great Depression, was working on the first atomic bomb. Feynman was not a man of philosophical theories or spiritualities. From a very young age, he spent his time tinkering with radios and listening to his father read from a popular encyclopaedia. While his father worked in sales, he would work as a busboy in the local hotel. He was self-taught in mathematics, and in his spare time would read about biology and chemistry instead of history, politics, or philosophy. Through pure ability alone, he was awarded a scholarship from MIT to study physics. Later when taking the graduate entrance exam in Princeton, he received a perfect score in mathematics, but did poorly in the history and English portions.
It is very hard to overstate the influence Richard Feynman had on physics and science as a whole. His receiving of the Nobel Prize was predicated on his formalising of all hitherto knowledge of electromagnetism into one coherent theory: the theory of Quantum Electrodynamics. Quantum Electrodynamics is quite possibly mankind鈥檚 greatest achievement. I will gladly argue anybody on this fact. Through it, we have achieved a complete understanding of a fundamental process of our universe, no matter at what point in time and space you are considering. This is just one of Richard Feynman鈥檚 contributions to mankind鈥檚 knowledge of the universe.
Bertrand Russell was the last of those men before the World Wars who, by sitting in his armchair and debating abstract philosophy, could achieve pre-eminence and influence. Today, we no longer have any time for such things. The men of pre-eminence are the scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, popular novelists, and the politicians. We have dispensed with the abstract in the public sphere and have elevated the pragmatic and scientific. Richard Feynman, for example, knew barely anything about history or philosophy. He knew nothing at all about the classics, and in fact had only a passing knowledge of one language other than English, namely Portuguese. He was born into a working class background, and vehemently disparaged pretension and all sorts of affected sophistication. Even though both men were mathematicians and scientists, they occupied very different realms (although, they were both friends of Einstein).
These days, any achievement in science, politics, or popular literature, far outweighs all contributions of high-minded philosophers to the average person鈥檚 life. Who honestly cares if some Harvard professor has delineated a new argument for Kantian thought, when Bill Gates has supplied the world with cheap computing? Never again will you commonly hear someone debating the merits of a philosophical or spiritual theory on the bus; any public speaker who demands attention in such things are branded as quacks. These days, any sort of sophisticated discussion we have in the public sphere are purely scientific and socio-political. Men and women like Elon Musk, or Angela Merkel are known to everyone; while the pre-eminent abstract philosophers of today are known to virtually no one.
This is Bertrand Russell鈥檚 legacy; the last of a dead strain of intellectuals. He was a great man, nonetheless.
Bertrand Russell was born into a wealthy and aristocratic family, with a long history of public office, in the late 19th century. His Grandfather was twice Prime minister, and his father was an Earl. The men and women whom he came into contact with in his early life shaped his future interests: Catholics, Quakers, Lutherans, Puritans, Buddhists, Darwinists, Atheists, Agnostics, Anarchists, Communists, Socialists, Liberals, Imperialists, Nationalists, Suffragettes, Irish Home Rule activists, Contraceptive activists, Free-Love activists, and various types of historians and philosophers; it is in this high minded environment of theories and spiritualities that Bertrand Russell narrates his formative youth. He was very well tutored, and by his adulthood he was fluent in the classical languages and thoroughly proficient in mathematics. After experiencing his first pubescent urges, he became obsessed with many of the Romantic poets, such as Shelley. Looking back, he explains, the sweet joy he would experience on reading such works of beauty were actually an outlet for his repressed sexual urges. He viewed himself and the various processes and peoples of his life through a high-minded theorising of various philosophies and ideas. It is no surprise that he became a philosopher and a mathematician. At least partly from his reading Mill, he was a proponent of women鈥檚 suffrage; and later, before the first World War, he became a pacifist, for which he was both politically and physically attacked.
I cannot speak on his philosophy with any sort of authority; however, I can do so with his mathematics. He was generally interested in the foundations of mathematics, and developing an abstract logical framework in which the ordinary mathematics of 1+1=2 may be logically and formally deduced. Again, it is to the abstract theorising that he normally gravitates. This possibly explains his lifelong feelings of loneliness that at various times drove him to thoughts of suicide. Surprisingly, he was not especially well read for his time; but he did have a deep understanding of those ideas he chose to speak of; which, combined with an unpretentious eloquence, produced a noble and progressive philosopher-writer. His History of Western Philosophy is excellent, although sometimes lacking in scope.
While reading of his travels in the US during WWII, during which he was hired as a sort of popular-philosophy lecturer for middle class workmen, it struck me at once that, at this exact time, Richard Feynman, a man born into poverty amidst the Great Depression, was working on the first atomic bomb. Feynman was not a man of philosophical theories or spiritualities. From a very young age, he spent his time tinkering with radios and listening to his father read from a popular encyclopaedia. While his father worked in sales, he would work as a busboy in the local hotel. He was self-taught in mathematics, and in his spare time would read about biology and chemistry instead of history, politics, or philosophy. Through pure ability alone, he was awarded a scholarship from MIT to study physics. Later when taking the graduate entrance exam in Princeton, he received a perfect score in mathematics, but did poorly in the history and English portions.
It is very hard to overstate the influence Richard Feynman had on physics and science as a whole. His receiving of the Nobel Prize was predicated on his formalising of all hitherto knowledge of electromagnetism into one coherent theory: the theory of Quantum Electrodynamics. Quantum Electrodynamics is quite possibly mankind鈥檚 greatest achievement. I will gladly argue anybody on this fact. Through it, we have achieved a complete understanding of a fundamental process of our universe, no matter at what point in time and space you are considering. This is just one of Richard Feynman鈥檚 contributions to mankind鈥檚 knowledge of the universe.
Bertrand Russell was the last of those men before the World Wars who, by sitting in his armchair and debating abstract philosophy, could achieve pre-eminence and influence. Today, we no longer have any time for such things. The men of pre-eminence are the scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, popular novelists, and the politicians. We have dispensed with the abstract in the public sphere and have elevated the pragmatic and scientific. Richard Feynman, for example, knew barely anything about history or philosophy. He knew nothing at all about the classics, and in fact had only a passing knowledge of one language other than English, namely Portuguese. He was born into a working class background, and vehemently disparaged pretension and all sorts of affected sophistication. Even though both men were mathematicians and scientists, they occupied very different realms (although, they were both friends of Einstein).
These days, any achievement in science, politics, or popular literature, far outweighs all contributions of high-minded philosophers to the average person鈥檚 life. Who honestly cares if some Harvard professor has delineated a new argument for Kantian thought, when Bill Gates has supplied the world with cheap computing? Never again will you commonly hear someone debating the merits of a philosophical or spiritual theory on the bus; any public speaker who demands attention in such things are branded as quacks. These days, any sort of sophisticated discussion we have in the public sphere are purely scientific and socio-political. Men and women like Elon Musk, or Angela Merkel are known to everyone; while the pre-eminent abstract philosophers of today are known to virtually no one.
This is Bertrand Russell鈥檚 legacy; the last of a dead strain of intellectuals. He was a great man, nonetheless.
Read
December 6, 2020In praise of idleness is one of the most beautiful essays I know - it is about what life is about. As is this autobiography, though in praise of idleness is pithier. Russell concludes that in his striving for truth he is disappointed, but in his striving for a better world he is not.
Want to read
December 5, 2019鈥淏ut always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.鈥�
April 12, 2023
Interesanta pe alocuri, dar militantismul din ultima treime a cartii e plictisitor.
January 31, 2018
One of my favorites
Excerpt
The day of my departure comes near. I have a thousand things to do,yet I sit here idle, thinking useless thoughts, the irrelevant, rebellious thoughts that well-regulated people never think.the thoughts that one hopes to banish by work, but that themselves banish work instead. How I envy those who always believe what they believe, who are not troubled by deadness and indifference to all that makes the framework of their lives. I have had the ambitions to be of use in the world, to achieve something notable, to give mankind new hopes. And now that the opportunity is nearer,it all seems dust and ashes. As I look into the future, my disillusioned gaze sees only strife and still more strifes,rasping cruelty, tyranny,terror and slavish submission. The men of my dreams,erect, fearless, and generous will they ever exist on earth? Or will men go on fighting, killing,and torturing to the end of time, till the earth grows old and the dying sun can no longer quicken their futile frenzy? I cannot tell. But I do know the despair in my soul. I know the great loneliness, as I wander through the world like a ghost, speaking in tones that are not heard, lost as if I had fallen from other planet. (P335)
Modern Physics
Alone in the tower at midnight, I remember the wood and downs, the sea and the sky, that daylight showed. Now, as I look through each of the four windows, north, south, east and west, I see only myself dimly reflected, or shadowed in monstrous opacity upon the fog. What matter? Tomorrow鈥檚 sunrise will give me back the beauty of the outer world as I wake from sleep.But the mental night that has descended upon me is less brief, and promise no awakening after sleep. Formerly, the cruelty, the meanness, the dusty fretful passion of human life seemed to me a little thing, set, like some resolved discord in music, amid the splendor of the stars and the stately procession of geological ages. What if the universe is to end in universal death? It was none the less unruffled and magnificent. But now all this has shrunk to be no more than my reflection in the windows of the soul through which I look out upon the night of nothingness. The revolution of nebulae, the birth and death of stars, are no more than convenient fictions in the trivial work of linking together my own sensations and perhaps those of other men not much better than myself. No dungeon was ever constructed so dark and narrow as that in which the shadow physics of our time imprisons us, for every prisoner has believed that outside his walls a free world existed; but now the prison has become the whole universe. There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendour, no vastness, anywhere; only triviality for a moment, and then nothing.Why live in such a world? Why even die? (p393)
But beneath all this load of failure I am still conscious of something I feel to be victory. I may have conceived theoretical truth wrongly, but I was not wrong in thinking that there is such a thing, and that it deserves our allegiance, I may have thought the road to a world of free and happy human being shorter than it is proving to be, but I was not wrong in thinking that such a world is possible, and that it is worthwhile to live with a view to bringing it nearer. I have lived in the pursuit of vision, both personal and social. Personal: to care for what is noble, for what is beautiful, for what is gentle: to allow moments of insight to give wisdom at more mundane times. Social: to see in imagination the society that is to be created, where individuals grow freely, and where the hate and greed and envy die because there is nothing to nourish them. These things I believe, and the world, for all its horrors, has left me unshaken.
Excerpt
The day of my departure comes near. I have a thousand things to do,yet I sit here idle, thinking useless thoughts, the irrelevant, rebellious thoughts that well-regulated people never think.the thoughts that one hopes to banish by work, but that themselves banish work instead. How I envy those who always believe what they believe, who are not troubled by deadness and indifference to all that makes the framework of their lives. I have had the ambitions to be of use in the world, to achieve something notable, to give mankind new hopes. And now that the opportunity is nearer,it all seems dust and ashes. As I look into the future, my disillusioned gaze sees only strife and still more strifes,rasping cruelty, tyranny,terror and slavish submission. The men of my dreams,erect, fearless, and generous will they ever exist on earth? Or will men go on fighting, killing,and torturing to the end of time, till the earth grows old and the dying sun can no longer quicken their futile frenzy? I cannot tell. But I do know the despair in my soul. I know the great loneliness, as I wander through the world like a ghost, speaking in tones that are not heard, lost as if I had fallen from other planet. (P335)
Modern Physics
Alone in the tower at midnight, I remember the wood and downs, the sea and the sky, that daylight showed. Now, as I look through each of the four windows, north, south, east and west, I see only myself dimly reflected, or shadowed in monstrous opacity upon the fog. What matter? Tomorrow鈥檚 sunrise will give me back the beauty of the outer world as I wake from sleep.But the mental night that has descended upon me is less brief, and promise no awakening after sleep. Formerly, the cruelty, the meanness, the dusty fretful passion of human life seemed to me a little thing, set, like some resolved discord in music, amid the splendor of the stars and the stately procession of geological ages. What if the universe is to end in universal death? It was none the less unruffled and magnificent. But now all this has shrunk to be no more than my reflection in the windows of the soul through which I look out upon the night of nothingness. The revolution of nebulae, the birth and death of stars, are no more than convenient fictions in the trivial work of linking together my own sensations and perhaps those of other men not much better than myself. No dungeon was ever constructed so dark and narrow as that in which the shadow physics of our time imprisons us, for every prisoner has believed that outside his walls a free world existed; but now the prison has become the whole universe. There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendour, no vastness, anywhere; only triviality for a moment, and then nothing.Why live in such a world? Why even die? (p393)
But beneath all this load of failure I am still conscious of something I feel to be victory. I may have conceived theoretical truth wrongly, but I was not wrong in thinking that there is such a thing, and that it deserves our allegiance, I may have thought the road to a world of free and happy human being shorter than it is proving to be, but I was not wrong in thinking that such a world is possible, and that it is worthwhile to live with a view to bringing it nearer. I have lived in the pursuit of vision, both personal and social. Personal: to care for what is noble, for what is beautiful, for what is gentle: to allow moments of insight to give wisdom at more mundane times. Social: to see in imagination the society that is to be created, where individuals grow freely, and where the hate and greed and envy die because there is nothing to nourish them. These things I believe, and the world, for all its horrors, has left me unshaken.
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