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Doubt is the mother of the progress.
- Anon.

Every generation needs a revolution.
– Thomas Jefferson

Question it if it's free.
- Anon

Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization.
– Eugene V. Debs

I respect faith but doubt is what gets you education.
– Wilson Mizner

And now essential mind-clearing wisdom from my favorite philosopher cum writer, Bertrand Russell, who, throuout his long life, spoke out against the dangers of group think, organized religion, traditional education and evils of government.

1. Passive acceptance of the teacher's wisdom is easy to most boys and girls. It involves no effort of independent thought, and seems rational because the teacher knows more than his pupils; it is moreover the way to win the favor of the teacher unless he is a very exceptional man.

Yet the habit of passive acceptance is a disastrous one in later life. It causes man to seek and to accept a leader, and to accept as a leader whoever is established in that position.

2. So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.

3. It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.

4. Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths.

5. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.


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