Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Russell contrasts Rousseau's disruptive influence with Hume's rational lack of followers.
In plain terms
Madness can drive influence, while sanity may not attract followers.
What can you take from it?
Influence does not require sanity; it requires impact.

Where it applies

  • evaluating historical figures
  • leadership analysis

Putting it to work

  • assessing leadership styles

Questions to consider

  • Does sanity hinder influence?
  • What drives historical change?

Another view

The dichotomy oversimplifies the complex reasons behind historical influence.

More from David Hume

  1. In every page of David Hume, there is more to be learned than from Hegel's, Herbart's and Schleiermacher's complete philosophical works. ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

    Permalink to quote #79
  2. Upon the whole, I have always considered him, both in his lifetime and since his death, as approaching as nearly to the idea of a perfectly wise and virtuous m…

    Permalink to quote #78
  3. Truth springs from argument amongst friends.

    Permalink to quote #77

Related quotes

  1. Norman Angell speaks to the intellect. He is cool and clear. He has a profound belief in reason and in rationalism. He is convinced that at long last reason wi…

    Norman AngellNorman Angell quote #50
  2. For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning. Imagination, producing new metaphors or revivifying old, is not the caus…

    C. S. LewisC. S. Lewis quote #1
  3. La raison et l'amour sont ennemis jures.

    Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille quote #1