If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry - Bertrand Russell

Hello, I am Bertrand Russell. Let me share with you a quote that holds profound insight into the workings of the human mind and the challenges of intellectual growth: "If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do." When I first expressed this thought, I was reflecting on the emotional reactions that often accompany deeply held beliefs. Anger, particularly in response to a differing opinion, is not just a reflex—it is a window into our own uncertainties. When we are confident in our reasoning, disagreements do not provoke anger; instead, they invite dialogue, understanding, and even the possibility of refining our views. But when anger arises, it often signals a deeper insecurity. Subconsciously, we may realize that our belief lacks foundation—perhaps it was inherited uncritically, accepted without examination, or shaped by biases we are unwilling to confront. Anger becomes a defense mechanism, a way to shield ourselves from the discomfort of cognitive dissonance—the tension between what we believe and the challenge to that belief.