3.03.2011

Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, Page 366

bertrand-russell“It is strange that the last men of intellectual eminence before the Dark Ages (the fall of the Western Roman Empire came in the fifth century) were concerned not with saving civilization or expeling the barbarians or reforming the abuses of the administration but with preaching the merit of virginity and the damnation of unbaptized infants.

“Seeing that these were the preoccupations that the Church handed on to the converted barbarians, it is no wonder that the succeedeing age surpassed almost all other fully historical periods in cruelty and superstition.”

-30-

Filed under: Overheard



3 Comments »

  1. “…preaching the merits of virginity and the damnation of unbatized infants.” I didn’t know the Tea Party goes all the way back to fifth century (although it’s obvious they live in the Dark Ages)!

    Comment by Let It Bleeed — 3.04.2011 @ 8:40 am

  2. The degree of one’s emotions varies inversely with one’s knowledge of the facts.
    Bertrand Russell

    Comment by smokey's gal — 3.04.2011 @ 9:55 am

  3. saving civilization or expeling the barbarians

    I never knew Russell to be anti Immigration but I think this quote is a nail in the coffin ; )

    Comment by Ame Mason — 4.03.2011 @ 6:53 am

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment