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About this quote

What does it mean?
Every new civil advance is labeled unnatural while it is new, says Russell.
In plain terms
He observes that societies call recent progress ‘unnatural’.
What can you take from it?
Innovation often faces resistance as being against nature.

Where it applies

  • technology adoption
  • cultural reform

Putting it to work

  • anticipate backlash
  • communicate benefits clearly

Questions to consider

  • Why do we resist change?
  • How can we ease acceptance of new ideas?

Another view

Some advances may indeed have unintended harmful effects.

More from Bertrand Russell

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  2. Christ said 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,' and when asked 'who is my neighbour?' went on to the parable of the Good Samaritan. If you wish to under…

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  3. The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, bec…

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