BRACERS Record Detail for 20399

To access the original letter, email the Russell Archives.

Collection code
RA3
Recent acquisition no.
434
Document no.
300040
Box no.
6.52
Source if not BR
Halpern, Barbara
Recipient(s)
Russell, Alys
Sender(s)
BR
Date
1894/01/28
Form of letter
ALS(M)
Pieces
2
BR's address code (if sender)
TC
Notes and topics

"12.30 p.m." More arrangements to meet in Paris after Rome. Told Amos. "I could hardly reconcile it to my conscience to have children brought up as Christians." Does she think her religious opinions are founded on something more than her wishes? Place of work in life. "Work alone would only be enough for a machine it seems to me, not for a human being." Reading Hobbes, Spinoza and Descartes on the passions. Now passion is in itself regarded—even by Bradley—as a good thing (explicitly anti-Spinoza). "But I wish I had got hold of Spinoza two years ago instead of Thomas à Kempis: he would have suited me far better: he preaches a rich voluptuous asceticism based on a vast undefined mysticism, which even now has seized hold of my imagination most powerfully." Crompton's [Llewelyn Davies] paper last night (scrappy). BR obviously pro-Socialist. 7-mile walk every day. Done lots of work—all shop.

*[Ll. Davies.]

Publication
SLBR 1: #23
Permission
Everyone
Transcription Public Access
No
Record no.
20399
Record created
Oct 20, 2014
Record last modified
Jun 23, 2025
Created/last modified by
duncana