Bertrand Russell

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17 Calendar

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Age: 45

Occupation: Philosopher, mathematician

Views: pacifism, socialism

Friends

Vladimir Lenin

Herbert George Wells

Leon Trotsky

Bernard Shaw

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Bertrand Russell

17.01.18

Friends of Russia here think of the dictatorship of the proletariat as merely a new form of representative government, in which only working men and women have votes, and the constituencies are partly occupational, not geographical. They think that " proletariat " means " proletariat," but " dictatorship " does not quite mean " dictatorship." This is the opposite of the truth. When a Russian Communist speaks of dictatorship, he means the word literally, but when he speaks of the proletariat, he means the word in a Pickwickian sense. He means the " class-conscious " part of the proletariat, i.e., the Communist Party. He includes people by no means proletarian (such as Lenin and Tchicherin) who have the right opinions, and he excludes such wage-earners as have not the right opinions, whom he classifies as lackeys of the bourgeoisie.

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Bertrand Russell

15.01.18

The effect of Bolshevism as a revolutionary hope is greater outside Russia than within the Soviet Republic. Grim realities have done much to kill hope among those who are subject to the dictatorship of Moscow.

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Bertrand Russell

14.01.18

Even the " industrious and conscientious worker" receives less food than is required to maintain efficiency.

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Bertrand Russell

12.01.18

There is a theory that the Moscow working man feels himself free from capitalist domination, and therefore bears hardships gladly. This is no doubt true of the minority who are active Communists, but I do not think it has any truth for the others. The average working man... feels himself the slave of the Government, and has no sense whatsoever of having been liberated from a tyranny.

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Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom

10.01.18

If the hopes which inspired Communism at the start, and which still inspire its Western advocates, are ever to be realized, the problem of minimizing violence is in itself delightful to most really vigorous revolutionaries, and they feel no interest in the problem of avoiding it as far as possible. Hatred of enemies is easier and more intense than love of friends.

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Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom

07.01.18

What Mohammedanism did for the Arabs, Bolshevism may do for the Russians. As Ali went down before the politicians who only rallied to the Prophet after his success, so the genuine Communists may go down before those who are now rallying to the ranks of the Bolsheviks. See more

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Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom

06.01.18

By far the most important aspect of the Russian Revolution is as an attempt to realize Communism. I believe that Communism is necessary to the world, and I believe that the heroism of Russia has fired men's hopes in a way which was essential to the realization of Communism in the future. See more

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Bertrand Russell Ottoline Morrell

London, United Kingdom

01.01.18

The year that is just over. It is the very first since I grew up during which I have written nothing to speak of.

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Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom

23.12.17

The materialistic conception of history is all very well, but some care for the higher things of civilization is a relief. The Bolsheviks are sometimes said to have done great things for art, but I could not discover that they had done more than preserve something of what existed before.

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Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom

18.12.17

Although the Government favours art as much as it can, the atmosphere is one in which art cannot flourish, because art is anarchic and resistant to organization. Gorky has done all that one man could to preserve the intellectual and artistic life of Russia.

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Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom

13.12.17

Bolshevism is internally aristocratic and externally militant. The Communists in many ways resemble the British public-school type: they have all the good and bad traits of an aristocracy which is young and vital. See more

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Bertrand Russell Colette O'Niell

5, Fitzroy street, London, United Kingdom

02.12.17

You were wonderful... and I came away feeling very full of love. Don't give another thought to the things I said in the night.

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Bertrand Russell

16.11.17

Bolshevism is not merely a political doctrine; it is also a religion, with elaborate dogmas and inspired scriptures. When Lenin wishes to prove some proposition, he does so, if possible, by quoting texts from Marx and Engels. See more

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Bertrand Russell

28.08.17

Bertrand Russel with Colette O'Niel in London, United Kingdom.

Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom

25.08.17

Bertrand Russel sent a letter to Colette O'Niel:

My dearest Darling

Your lovely letter this morning was a joy – an unspeakable delight. O my love, you are so beautiful and so dear. I love you in every way of love. I love you now immeasurably more than even a few months ago. I am yours, yours. I love you every hour and every minute – away from you I am hardly alive – when our lips meet, life burns in great flame between us.

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Age: 45

Occupation: Philosopher, mathematician Views: pacifism, socialism

Friends

Vladimir Lenin

Leon Trotsky

Herbert George Wells

Bernard Shaw