the brut first knows death when it dies, but man draws consciously nearer to it every hour that he lives; and this makes his life at times a questionable good even to him who has not recognised this character of constant anaihilation in the whole of life.

Arthur Schopenhauer

More Quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer
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More Quotes From Arthur Schopenhauer
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no... by Arthur Schopenhauer

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

Arthur Schopenhauer
beautifulinspirationallife

The majority of men... are not capable of thinking, but only of believing, and... are not accessible to reason, but only to authority.

Arthur Schopenhauer
menbelievethinking
It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impos... by Arthur Schopenhauer

It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.

Arthur Schopenhauer
finding-happinessdifficultimpossible

A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.

Arthur Schopenhauer
being-yourselffreedominspirational

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

Arthur Schopenhauer
truthwittyinspirational

Every miserable fool who has nothing at all of which he can be proud, adopts as a last resource pride in the nation to which he belongs; he is ready and happy to defend all its faults and follies tooth and nail, thus reimbursing himself for his own inferiority.

Arthur Schopenhauer
teethprideracism
A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts. by Arthur Schopenhauer

A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts.

Arthur Schopenhauer
pessimistoptimistfacts

Consider the Koran... this wretched book was sufficient to start a world-religion, to satisfy the metaphysical need of countless millions for twelve hundred years, to become the basis of their morality and of a remarkable contempt for death, and also to inspire them to bloody wars and the most extensive conquests. In this book we find the saddest and poorest form of theism. Much may be lost in translation, but I have not been able to discover in it one single idea of value.

Arthur Schopenhauer
warbookyears
Man is the only animal who causes pain to others with no other ob... by Arthur Schopenhauer

Man is the only animal who causes pain to others with no other object than wanting to do so.

Arthur Schopenhauer
painanimalwar
There is something in us that is wiser than our head. by Arthur Schopenhauer

There is something in us that is wiser than our head.

Arthur Schopenhauer
wiser
The person who writes for fools is always sure of a large audienc... by Arthur Schopenhauer

The person who writes for fools is always sure of a large audience.

Arthur Schopenhauer
humorwritingfunny

The real meaning of persona is a mask, such as actors were accustomed to wear on the ancient stage; and it is quite true that no one shows himself as he is, but wears his mask and plays his part. Indeed, the whole of our social arrangements may be likened to a perpetual comedy; and this is why a man who is worth anything finds society so insipid, while a blockhead is quite at home in it.

Arthur Schopenhauer
realhomemen

Genius and madness have something in common: both live in a world that is different from that which exists for everyone else.

Arthur Schopenhauer
geniusdifferentworld

Compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.

Arthur Schopenhauer
animalcharactermen

If anyone spends almost the whole day in reading...he gradually loses the capacity for thinking...This is the case with many learned persons; they have read themselves stupid

Arthur Schopenhauer
readingstupidthinking

A man of genius can hardly be sociable, for what dialogues could indeed be so intelligent and entertaining as his own monologues?

Arthur Schopenhauer
geniusintelligentmen
A sense of humour is the only divine quality of man by Arthur Schopenhauer

A sense of humour is the only divine quality of man

Arthur Schopenhauer
funny-lifegodmen
The greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind... by Arthur Schopenhauer

The greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness.

Arthur Schopenhauer
philosophicalinspirationhappy
To feel envy is human, to savour schadenfreude is devilish by Arthur Schopenhauer

To feel envy is human, to savour schadenfreude is devilish

Arthur Schopenhauer
savourenvyfeels

Happiness belongs to those who are sufficient unto themselves. For all external sources of happiness and pleasure are, by their very nature, highly uncertain, precarious, ephemeral and subject to chance.

Arthur Schopenhauer
ephemeralselfinspirational