When Mentors Do Wrong 3

There is a famous story told of Bertram Russell, a famous ethics professor. The story is found so often, and with so many conflicting details, that it’s hard for me to ascertain the exact story. But in all of them, the main lesson shines through.

Bertram Russell was caught having an affair with a woman other than his wife. People who heard about it were shocked. “But how can it be that you would do such a thing?” they asked him, “You teach ETHICS!?” The way he answered shows what I’ve been saying “ad if I were a professor of mathematics, would you expect me to be a triangle?”

In other words, “I don’t necessarily have to practice what I preach.” I’m sure that his students and peers looked up to him as an example. What would they have done with the information that their beloved professor and friend was not a good person to model their life after? They had to separate him from what he taught. And we have to work to do the same.