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Arthur Schopenhauer Quotes - Page 9

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There is not much to be got anywhere in the world. It is filled with misery and pain; if a man escapes these, boredeom lies in wait for him at every corner. Nay more; it is evil which generally has the upper hand, and

There is not much to be got anywhere in the world. It is filled with misery and pain; if a man escapes these, boredeom lies in wait for him at every corner. Nay more; it is evil which generally has the upper hand, and folly that makes the most noise. Fate is cruel and mankind pitiable.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Pain, Lying, Fate
Arthur Schopenhauer (2012). “Collected Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer”, p.423, Simon and Schuster

In early youth, as we contemplate our coming life, we are like children in a theatre before the curtain is raised, sitting there in high spirits and eagerly waiting for the play to begin. It is a blessing that we do not know what is really going to happen. Could we foresee it, there are times when children might seem like innocent prisoners, condemned, not to death, but to life, and as yet all unconscious of what their sentence means.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Children, Mean, Blessing
Arthur Schopenhauer (2014). “Suffering, Suicide and Immortality: Eight Essays from The Parerga”, p.3, Courier Corporation

The scenes and events of long ago, and the persons who took part in them, wear a charming aspect to the eye of memory, which sees only the outlines and takes no note of disagreeable details. The present enjoys no such advantage, and so it always seems defective.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Memories, Eye, Long Ago
Arthur Schopenhauer (2012). “Collected Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer”, p.248, Simon and Schuster

For an act to be moral the intention must be based on compassion, not duty. We do something because we want to do it, because we feel we have to do it, not because we ought to do it. And even if our efforts fail - or we never even get to implement them - we are still moral because our motivation was based on compassion.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Motivation, Compassion, Effort

Every time a man is begotten and born, the clock of human life is wound up anew to repeat once more its same old tune that has already been played innumerable times, movement by movement and measure by measure, with insignificant variations.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Men, Tunes, Variation
Arthur Schopenhauer (2012). “The World as Will and Representation”, p.322, Courier Corporation

Life is neither to be wept over nor to be laughed at but to be understood.

Arthur Schopenhauer
True Life, Life Is, Understood

No one can transcend their own individuality.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Individuality

Life is short and truth works far and lives long: let us speak the truth.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Life, Philosophy, Long
Arthur Schopenhauer (2016). “The World As Will And Idea (Vol. 1 of 3)”, p.10, Kshetra Books

It is in the treatment of trifles that a person shows what they are.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Philosophical, Treatment, Trifles

Men need some kind of external activity, because they are inactive within.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Men, Needs, Kind
Arthur Schopenhauer (2015). “Studies in Pessimism”, p.92, Arthur Schopenhauer

In our monogamous part of the world, to marry means to halve one's rights and double one's duties.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Marriage, Mean, Rights
"Counsels and Maxims". Book by Arthur Schopenhauer, Vol. 2, Ch. 27, § 370, 2007.

Faith is like love: it does not let itself be forced.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Like Love, Doe
Arthur Schopenhauer (2016). “101 Facts of life”, p.50, Publishdrive

We may divide thinkers into those who think for themselves and those who think through others. The latter are the rule and the former the exception. The first are original thinkers in a double sense, and egotists in the noblest meaning of the word.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Thinking, May, Firsts

Writers may be classified as meteors, planets, and fixed stars.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Stars, May, Meteors
Arthur Schopenhauer (2015). “The Art of Literature: Top of Schopenhauer”, p.53, 谷月社

Noise is the most impertinent of all forms of interruption. It is not only an interruption, but also a disruption of thought.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Noise, Pessimism, Form
Arthur Schopenhauer (2012). “Collected Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer”, p.269, Simon and Schuster

There is one respect in which beasts show real wisdom... their quiet, placid enjoyment of the present moment.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Horse, Real, Quiet

To become indignant at [people's] conduct is as foolish as to be angry with a stone because it rolls into your path. And with many people the wisest thing you can do, is to resolve to make use of those whom you cannot alter.

Arthur Schopenhauer
People, Use, Stones

Style is what gives value and currency to thoughts.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Giving, Style, Currency

To form a judgment intuitively is the privilege of few; authority and example lead the rest of the world. They see with the eyes of others, they hear with the ears of others. Therefore it is very easy to think as all the world now think; but to think as all the world will think thirty years hence is not in the power of every one.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Eye, Thinking, Years

Truth is most beautiful undraped.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Beautiful, Truth Is
Arthur Schopenhauer (2012). “Collected Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer”, p.351, Simon and Schuster

I believe that when death closes our eyes we shall awaken to a light, of which our sunlight is but the shadow.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Believe, Eye, Light

A man's delight in looking forward to and hoping for some particular satisfaction is a part of the pleasure flowing out of it, enjoyed in advance. But this is afterward deducted, for the more we look forward to anything the less we enjoy it when it comes.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Sad, Men, Looks

However, for the man who studies to gain insight, books and studies are merely rungs of the ladder on which he climbs to the summit of knowledge. As soon as a rung has raised him up one step, he leaves it behind. On the other hand, the many who study in order to fill their memory do not use the rungs of the ladder for climbing, but take them off and load themselves with them to take away, rejoicing at the increasing weight of the burden. They remain below forever, because they bear what should have bourne them.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Memories, Book, Men
Arthur Schopenhauer (2016). “101 Facts of life”, p.93, Publishdrive

With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Inspirational, Honesty, Hypocrite

The difficulty is to try and teach the multitude that something can be true and untrue at the same time.

Arthur Schopenhauer
Education, Teacher, Trying

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