 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
But in retrospect, as I have grown older, I have realized more and more the importance she (Russell's grandmother) had in moulding my outlook on life. Her fearlessness, her public spirit, her contempt for convention, and her indifference to the opinion of the majority have always seemed good to me and have impressed themselves upon me as worthy of imitation. She gave me a Bible with her favourite texts written on the fly-leaf. Among these was "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." Her emphasis upon this text led me in later life to be not afraid of belonging to small minorities.
Source: Bertrand Russell: The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, v.１, chap. 1, 1967
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Russell's grandmother was the second daughter of the Earl of Minto, whose husband John Russell (Russell's grandfather) was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Russell's parents died early, so Russell was taken in by his grandmother at an early age and brought up by her until he went to Cambridge University at the age of 18. His grandmother was strict with herself, not sitting in her easy chair until the evening, and Russell was brought up strictly according to a set routine (piano practice every morning from 7.30am to 8am; family prayer at 8am; simple meals; cold water baths all year round). Translated with DeepL.com (free version)