Bertrand Russell on the main thing in marriage

    This is Bertrand Russell writing to a Judge Lindsey:

My own view is that the state and the law should take no notice of sexual relations apart from children, and that no marriage ceremony should be valid unless accompanied by a medical certificate of the woman’s pregnancy. But when once there are children, I think that divorce should be avoided except for very grave cause. I should not regard physical infidelity as a very grave cause and should teach people that it is to be expected and tolerated, but should not involve the begetting of illegitimate children - not because illegitimacy is bad in itself, but because a home with two parents is best for children. I do not feel that the main thing in marriage is the feeling of the parents for each other; the main thing is cooperation in bearing children.

    (Quoted from page 298 of A Preface to Morals, by Walter Lippman. The Macmillan Company, 1929.)
    For a brief biography of Bertrand Russell, click here. For images of or relating to Bertrand Russell, click here.
    For a brief biography of Walter Lippmann, click here. For images of or relating to Walter Lippmann, click here.