What is new in our time is the increased power of the authorities to enforce their prejudices.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Russell notes that modern authorities have greater ability to impose their prejudices.
- In plain terms
- Authorities now can enforce biases more powerfully.
- What can you take from it?
- Beware of increasing state power over prejudice.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can societies limit biased enforcement?
- What mechanisms protect against authoritarian prejudice?
Another view
Not all authority actions are prejudiced; some aim at equity.
More from Bertrand Russell
The secret of happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible, horrible, horrible.
Permalink to quote #49 This is one of those views which are so absurd that only very learned men could possibly adopt them.
Permalink to quote #51 The only thing that will redeem mankind is co-operation.
Permalink to quote #48
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