Bertrand Russell and Stevie Wonder were on the money about superstition and fear

“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom, in the pursuit of truth as in the endeavor after a worthy manner of life.”
— Bertrand Russell

Over the years, optimistic humans believe that fear can be conquered, and superstitions can be eradicated. One can wish.

Almost six decades after the death of Bertrand Russell, who lived to be 97, we are still surrounded by fear, superstition and, yes, cruelty. The politics of our age are entwined in them.

The words above come from an essay Russell published in 1943, charmingly called an An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish. It was collected later in a book of essays. (You can read the original online through Memorial University’s cherish Digital Archives Initative.)

Russell was one of those intellectuals who had a way of communicating powerfully, and I think this is because his toolbox included plain language. Read this list of advice published in the New York Times Magazine in 1950, with accessible lines like, “Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed.”

I’ve seen the Russell quote above in different places, generally truncated. It has often reminded me of Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, which he recorded two years after Russell’s death. “When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer” feels as pointed and plain-spoken as Russell’s caution.

Here’s a performance of Superstition from 1974.

Playlist

I’ve added Superstition to a playlist of songs I’ve mentioned on the blog. Feel free to take a tour.