I am posting these here. They remain quite relevant and appropriate today:

---

Bertrand Russell’s “Liberal Decalogue” is his set of ten “commandments” for clear thinking, intellectual humility, and democratic argument. It appeared in his 1951 New York Times Magazine essay, “The Best Answer to Fanaticism: Liberalism.”

1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
2. Do not think it worthwhile to produce belief by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
3. Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed.
4. When you meet opposition, overcome it by argument, not authority.
5. Have no respect for the authority of others, because contrary authorities can always be found.
6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think harmful, because the opinions will suppress you.
7. Do not fear being eccentric in opinion, because every accepted opinion was once eccentric.
8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than passive agreement.
9. Be scrupulously truthful, even when truth is inconvenient.
10. Do not envy the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise.

In plain English: stay humble, follow evidence, argue with reasons, protect dissent, and tell the truth even when it costs you. For educators, it reads like a compact critical-thinking code.

---