Where the environment is stupid or prejudiced or cruel, it is a sign of merit to be out of harmony with it.
 Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness (1930). copy citation

edit
Author Bertrand Russell
Source The Conquest of Happiness
Topic prejudice entourage
Date 1930
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://russell-j.com/beginner/COH-TEXT.HTM

Context

“Nothing except intelligence is required in such a case to cause him to be out of sympathy with them. To be out of harmony with one's surroundings is, of course, a misfortune, but it is not always a misfortune to be avoided at all costs. Where the environment is stupid or prejudiced or cruel, it is a sign of merit to be out of harmony with it. And to some degree these characteristics exist in almost every environment. Galileo and Kepler had 'dangerous thoughts' (as they are called in Japan), and so have the most intelligent men of our own day.” source

Meaning and analysis

write a note
report