Ten humanist commandments

I used to love reading Bertrand Russell. He always seemed such a clear thinker, and a clear writer, too. And his uncompromisingly rational approach was very attractive. He was a champion of thinking, of culture, of the rational.

And behind the ruthless ratiocination there was always a twinkle of the eyes, a lurking sense of humour. When he was imprisoned as a conscientious objector in the first world war, he was laughing so loudly on reading Lytton Strachey that a warder had to ask him to remember that he was in a prison.

When, as a student, I came across these 10 commandments, I felt galvanised by them. 40 years later, they still feel inspiring, true, a bright star in a dark night. I am not sure they can be bettered.

Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it. The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:

 

Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.

 

Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.

 

Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.

 

When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavour to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.

 

Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.

 

Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.

 

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

 

Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.

 

Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.

 

Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.