How shall a man be proud, when his conception is a crime, his birth a penalty, his life a labour, and death a necessity!
Arthur Schopenhauer
Pride, Existence, Suffering, Mortality, Human Condition
Arthur Schopenhauer’s Quotes On Topics
Psychological Insight | Reality | Media | Fame | Emotional Needs | Hindsight | Philosophical Exploration | Human Experience | Fortune | Impression | Intellectual Process | Talent | Insatiability | Qualifications | Self-respect | Literary Types | Original Thought | Government | Personal Integrity | Companionship | More
More Arthur Schopenhauer Quotes
“In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads. It has been the solace of my life, it will be the solace of my death.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Upanishads, Study, Spirituality, Personal Solace, Philosophy
Arthur Schopenhauer Upanishads, Study, Spirituality, Personal Solace, Philosophy“A man may begin by following the craving of desire, until he comes to see how hollow and unreal a thing life is, how deceitful are its pleasures, what horrible aspects it possesses; and this it is that makes people hermits, penitents, Magdalenes.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Desire, Life, Disillusionment, Human Experience, Introspection
Arthur Schopenhauer Desire, Life, Disillusionment, Human Experience, Introspection“In action, a great heart is the chief qualification. In work, a great head.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Action, Heart, Intellect, Qualifications, Balance
Arthur Schopenhauer Action, Heart, Intellect, Qualifications, Balance“Personal courage is really a very subordinate virtue-a virtue, indeed, in which we are surpassed by the lower animals; or else you would not hear people say, as brave as a lion.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Courage, Virtue, Comparison, Animal Kingdom, Moral Values
Arthur Schopenhauer Courage, Virtue, Comparison, Animal Kingdom, Moral Values“National character is only another name for the particular form which the littleness, perversity and baseness of mankind take in every country. Every nation mocks at other nations, and all are right.” Arthur Schopenhauer
National Character, Critique, Human Nature, Societal Flaws, Cultural Commentary
Arthur Schopenhauer National Character, Critique, Human Nature, Societal Flaws, Cultural Commentary“Every moment of our life belongs to the present only for a moment; then it belongs for ever to the past.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Moment, Time, Present, Memory, Fleeting Existence
Arthur Schopenhauer Moment, Time, Present, Memory, Fleeting Existence“The cause of laughter is simply the sudden perception of the incongruity between a concept and the real project.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Laughter, Incongruity, Humor, Perception, Psychology
Arthur Schopenhauer Laughter, Incongruity, Humor, Perception, Psychology“We learn by experience that happiness and pleasure are a fata morgana, which, visible from afar, vanish as we approach; that, on the other hand, suffering and pain are a reality, which makes its presence felt without any intermediary, and for its effect, stands in no need of illusion or the play of false hope.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Happiness, Suffering, Reality, Illusion, Human Experience
Arthur Schopenhauer Happiness, Suffering, Reality, Illusion, Human Experience“If you want to know your true opinion of someone, watch the effect produced in you by the first sight of a letter from him.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Perception, Relationship, Response, Opinion, Emotional Reaction
Arthur Schopenhauer Perception, Relationship, Response, Opinion, Emotional Reaction“The alchemists in their search for gold discovered many other things of greater value.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Alchemy, Discovery, Value, Pursuit, Human Potential
Arthur Schopenhauer Alchemy, Discovery, Value, Pursuit, Human Potential“After your death you will be what you were before your birth.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Existence, Death, Rebirth, Philosophy, Life Cycle
Arthur Schopenhauer Existence, Death, Rebirth, Philosophy, Life Cycle“I constantly saw the false and the bad, and finally the absurd and the senseless, standing in universal admiration and honour.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Absurdity, Critique, Human Nature, Societal Values, Perception
Arthur Schopenhauer Absurdity, Critique, Human Nature, Societal Values, Perception“I owe what is best in my own development to the impression made by Kant’s works, the sacred writings of the Hindus, and Plato.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Influence, Philosophy, Personal Development, Reading, Intellectual Growth
Arthur Schopenhauer Influence, Philosophy, Personal Development, Reading, Intellectual Growth“Will power is to the mind like a strong blind man who carries on his shoulders a lame man who can see.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Willpower, Mind, Metaphor, Strength, Dependency
Arthur Schopenhauer Willpower, Mind, Metaphor, Strength, Dependency“In our monogamous part of the world, to marry means to halve one’s rights and double one’s duties.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Marriage, Monogamy, Rights, Responsibilities, Social Commentary
Arthur Schopenhauer Marriage, Monogamy, Rights, Responsibilities, Social Commentary“In the sphere of thought, absurdity and perversity remain the masters of the world, and their dominion is suspended only for brief periods.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Absurdity, Thought, Human Condition, Philosophy, Societal Critique
Arthur Schopenhauer Absurdity, Thought, Human Condition, Philosophy, Societal Critique“Do not shorten the morning by getting up late, or waste it in unworthy occupations or in talk; look upon it as the quintessence of life, as to a certain extent sacred. Evening is like old age: we are languid, talkative, silly. Each day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Morning, Purpose, Routine, Life Cycles, Reflection
Arthur Schopenhauer Morning, Purpose, Routine, Life Cycles, Reflection“Everything that happens, happens of necessity.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Necessity, Fate, Determinism, Inevitability, Existence
Arthur Schopenhauer Necessity, Fate, Determinism, Inevitability, Existence“Optimism is not only a false but also a pernicious doctrine, for it presents life as a desirable state and man’s happiness as its aim and object. Starting from this, everyone then believes he has the most legitimate claim to happiness and enjoyment. If, as usually happens, these do not fall to his lot, he believes that he suffers an injustice, in fact that he misses the whole point of his existence.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Optimism, Happiness, Desire, Disillusionment, Human Condition
Arthur Schopenhauer Optimism, Happiness, Desire, Disillusionment, Human Condition