Bertrand Russell: Thought Free
on Tuesday, June 30, 2020Bertrand Russell Money Quote saying free thought is stopped at the point that it interferes with the ability to make a living. Bertrand Russell said:
“It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions makes it impossible to earn a living” — Bertrand Russell
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This quote from Bertrand Russell suggests that true freedom of thought cannot exist if expressing certain beliefs or opinions prevents someone from earning a living and supporting themselves financially.
The quote implies that censorship of ideas essentially occurs when voicing dissenting views might jeopardize one’s employment and livelihood. Russell seems to be arguing that as long as certain opinions could cost someone their job or career, independent and open thinking is not fully possible.
The overall message is that societal and economic conditions must allow people to safely and publicly share a diversity of perspectives without fear of professional retaliation or harm to their means of subsistence.