How is it possible that suffering that is neither my own nor of my concern should immediately affect me as though it were my own, and with such force that is moves me to action? Arthur Schopenhauer More Quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer More Quotes From Arthur Schopenhauer Human life must be some form of mistake. Arthur Schopenhauer form mistake life A man of intellect is like an artist who gives a concert without any help from anyone else, playing on a single instrument--a piano, say, which is a little orchestra in itself. Such a man is a little world in himself; and the effect produced by various instruments together, he produces single-handed, in the unity of his own consciousness. Like the piano, he has no place in a symphony; he is a soloist and performs by himself--in soli tude, it may be; or if in the company with other instruments, only as principal; or for setting the tone, as in singing. Arthur Schopenhauer symphony artist men Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an instrument, in the same way as genius in respect to art. It would be as foolish to expect that our moral and ethical systems would turn out virtuous, noble, and holy beings, as that our aesthetic systems would produce poets, painters, and musicians. Arthur Schopenhauer musician ideas art There are three stages in the revelation of truth. The first is to be ridiculed, the second is to be resisted and the third is to be considered self-evident. Arthur Schopenhauer three self firsts We can do what we wish, but we can only wish what we must. Arthur Schopenhauer wish can-do 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 Wir tappen im Labyrinth unsers Lebenswandels und im Dunkel unserer Forschungen umher: helleAugenblicke erleuchten dabei wie Blitze unsernWeg. We grope about in the labyrinth of our life and in the obscurity of our investigations; bright moments illuminate our path like flashes of lightning. Arthur Schopenhauer labyrinth obscurity lightning As a general rule, the longer a man's fame is likely to last, the later it will be in coming; for all excellent products require time for their development. Arthur Schopenhauer philosophical lasts men Anyone can squash a bug but all professors of this world couldn't build one. Arthur Schopenhauer squash bugs world Knowledge is to certain extent a second existence. Arthur Schopenhauer existence certain Reading is a mere makeshift for original thinking. Arthur Schopenhauer mere reading thinking A hedge between keeps friendship green. Arthur Schopenhauer green And yet, just as our body would burst asunder if the pressure of the atmosphere were removed from it, so would the arrogance of men expand, if not to the point of bursting then to that of the most unbridled folly, indeed madness, if the pressure of want, toil, calamity and frustration were removed from their life. One can even say that we require at all times a certain quantity of care or sorrow or want, as a ship requires ballast, in order to keep on a straight course. Arthur Schopenhauer frustration men order We deceive and flatter no one by such delicate artificies as we do our own selves. Arthur Schopenhauer deceit deceiving self Happiness of any given life is to be measured, not by its joys and pleasures, but by the extent to which it has been free from suffering-from positive evil. Arthur Schopenhauer evil joy happiness there are very few who can think, but every man wants to have an opinion; and what remains but to take it ready-made from others, instead of forming opinions for himself? Arthur Schopenhauer want men thinking Every human perfection is allied to a defect into which it threatens to pass, but it is also true that every defect is allied to a perfection. Arthur Schopenhauer defects pessimism perfection The memory should be specially taxed in youth, since it is then that it is strongest and most tenacious. But in choosing the things that should be committed to memory the utmost are and forethought must be exercised; as lessons well learnt in youth are never forgotten. Arthur Schopenhauer youth lessons memories The conviction that the world and man is something that had better not have been, is of a kind to fill us with indulgence towards one another. Arthur Schopenhauer love-hate men world Empirical sciences prosecuted purely for their own sake, and without philosophic tendency are like a face without eyes. Arthur Schopenhauer eye philosophy science
