The-Conquest-of-Happiness-by-Bertrand-Russell

marriage, and in friendship also, though in
friendship it is less difficult. In a good world it
would pervade the political relations between
groups of human beings, though this is so distant a
hope that we need not linger over it. But universal
as is the need for this kind of gentleness, it is
needed most of all where children are concerned,
because of their helplessness, and because their
small size and feeble strength cause vulgar souls to
despise them.
But to return to the problems with which this book
is concerned, the full joy of parenthood in the
modern world is only to be obtained by those who
can deeply feel this attitude of respect towards the
child of which I have been speaking. For to them
there will be no irksome restraint upon their love
of power, and no need to dread the bitter
disillusionment which despotic parents experience
when their children acquire freedom. And to the
parent who has this attitude there is more joy in
parenthood than ever was possible to the despot in
the hey-day of parental power. For the love that