History of Western Philosophy (Routledge Classics)

by Bertrand Russell

A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something that he can understand. I would rather be reported by my bitterest enemy among philosophers than by a friend innocent of philosophy.

Young men of the richer classes, he says, having not much to do, enjoy listening to him exposing people, and proceed to do likewise, thus increasing the number of his enemies. ‘For they do not like to confess that their pretence of knowledge has been detected.’

Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education.