Quote of the Day for 2016-06-19, Father's Day

"The fundamental defect of fathers, in our competitive society, is that they want their children to be a credit to them."

— Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) "Freedom Versus Authority in Education," lecture at the Harvard Union (May 16, 1924)

The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, on the Sistine Chapel ceiling (circa 1512) Photograph by Jörg Bittner Unna

Quote of the Day for 2016-05-20

"Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true."

— Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) "Recent Work on the Principles of Mathematics," The International Monthly (July 1901)

The Flammarion Engraving by an unknown artist, from L'Atmosphère: Météorologie Populaire (1888)

Quote of the Day for 2015-10-27

"The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt."

— Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) "The Triumph of Stupidity," May 10, 1933

Screenshot of Bill O'Reilly from an infamous out-take of Inside Edition. (circa 1991)

Quote of the Day for 2015-10-19

"Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are all embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate."

— Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) "Freedom in Society," Harper's Monthly Magazine, March 1926

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher wave to photographers after their arrival in Camp David on December, 22 1984. (UPI/AFP/GettyImages)

Quote of the Day for 2015-10-11

"Boredom is therefore a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it."

— Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) The Conquest of Happiness

Glenn Close as Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons (1988)