In our early youth we sit before the life that lies ahead of us like children sitting before the curtain in a theatre, in happy and tense anticipation of whatever is going to appear. Luckily we do not know what really will appear.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Youth, Anticipation, Life, Uncertainty, Metaphor
Arthur Schopenhauer’s Quotes On Topics
Reality Vs Illusion | Wickedness | Awakening | Cultural Criticism | Danger | Natural Harmony | Human Desires | Darkness | Freedom Of The Press | Common Sense | Task | Confidence | Mediocrity | Expectation | Definition Of Self | Human Emotions | Priorities | Creativity | Health | Unrest | More
More Arthur Schopenhauer Quotes
“Faith is like love: it does not let itself be forced.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Faith, Love, Authenticity, Belief, Human Experience
Arthur Schopenhauer Faith, Love, Authenticity, Belief, Human Experience“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“Society is in this respect like a fire-the wise man warming himself at a proper distance from it; not coming too close, like the fool, who, on getting scorched, runs away and shivers in solitude, loud in his complaint that the fire burns.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Society, Wisdom, Fire Metaphor, Self-awareness, Balance
Arthur Schopenhauer Society, Wisdom, Fire Metaphor, Self-awareness, Balance“Whether we are in a pleasant or a painful state depends, finally, upon the kind of matter that pervades and engrosses our consciousness and what we compare it to – better and we envious and sad, worse and we feel grateful and happy.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Emotion, Consciousness, Perspective, Comparison, Gratitude
Arthur Schopenhauer Emotion, Consciousness, Perspective, Comparison, Gratitude“If he has a soul above the common, or if he is a man of genius, he will occasionally feel like some noble prisoner of state, condemned to work in the galleys with common criminals; and he will follow his example and try to isolate himself.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Genius, Isolation, Social Comparison, Individuality, Human Psyche
Arthur Schopenhauer Genius, Isolation, Social Comparison, Individuality, Human Psyche“It is only when a man is alone that he is really free.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Freedom, Solitude, Self-discovery, Independence, Personal Insight
Arthur Schopenhauer Freedom, Solitude, Self-discovery, Independence, Personal Insight“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“Of how many a man may it not be said that hope made a fool of him until he danced into the arms of death!” Arthur Schopenhauer
Hope, Folly, Death, Irony, Human Experience
Arthur Schopenhauer Hope, Folly, Death, Irony, Human Experience“I am often surprised by the cleverness, and now and again by the stupidity, of my dog; and I have similar experiences with mankind.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Animals, Intelligence, Comparison, Observation, Humanity
Arthur Schopenhauer Animals, Intelligence, Comparison, Observation, Humanity“It is only at the first encounter that a face makes its full impression on us.” Arthur Schopenhauer
First Impressions, Perception, Human Interaction, Identity, Social Dynamics
Arthur Schopenhauer First Impressions, Perception, Human Interaction, Identity, Social Dynamics“To be alone is the fate of all great minds – a fate deplored at times, but still always chosen as the less grievous of two evils.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Solitude, Creativity, Individuality, Choice, Human Experience
Arthur Schopenhauer Solitude, Creativity, Individuality, Choice, Human Experience“Thus, the task is not so much to see what no one yet has seen, but to think what nobody yet has thought about that which everybody sees.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Original Thought, Perception, Insight, Creativity, Philosophical Exploration
Arthur Schopenhauer Original Thought, Perception, Insight, Creativity, Philosophical Exploration“A man shows his character just in the way in which he deals with trifles, for then he is off his guard.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Character, Trifles, Authenticity, Human Behavior, True Self
Arthur Schopenhauer Character, Trifles, Authenticity, Human Behavior, True Self“It is difficult, if not impossible, to define the limit of our reasonable desires in respect of possessions.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Desire, Possessions, Limits, Human Nature, Existential Inquiry
Arthur Schopenhauer Desire, Possessions, Limits, Human Nature, Existential Inquiry“The greatest wisdom consists in enjoying the present and making this enjoyment the goal of life because the present is all that is real and everything else merely imaginary. But you could just as well call this mode of life the greatest folly: for that which in a moment ceases to exist, which vanishes as completely as a dream, cannot be worth any serious effort.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Wisdom, Present Moment, Enjoyment, Existential Thought, Reality Vs Illusion
Arthur Schopenhauer Wisdom, Present Moment, Enjoyment, Existential Thought, Reality Vs Illusion“Every satisfaction he attains lays the seeds of some new desire, so that there is no end to the wishes of each individual will.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Satisfaction, Desire, Endless Cycle, Human Nature, Emotional Fulfillment
Arthur Schopenhauer Satisfaction, Desire, Endless Cycle, Human Nature, Emotional Fulfillment“This is the case with many learned persons; they have read themselves stupid.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Knowledge, Reading, Wisdom, Self-awareness, Intellectual Limits
Arthur Schopenhauer Knowledge, Reading, Wisdom, Self-awareness, Intellectual Limits“There are three main bulwarks of defence against new thoughts: to pay no heed, to give no credence, and finally to assert that it had already long existed.” Arthur Schopenhauer
Defense, New Thoughts, Skepticism, Intellectual Barriers, Social Influence
Arthur Schopenhauer Defense, New Thoughts, Skepticism, Intellectual Barriers, Social Influence