Quotessence
Home / Authors / Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer

Arthur Schopenhauer Quotes

Philosopher

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenIfsWorldPhilosophicalPessimismMayPeopleFirstsPhilosophyShould

Famous Arthur Schopenhauer Quotes

“Every new born being indeed comes fresh and blithe into the new existence, and enjoys it as a free gift: but there is, and can be, nothing freely given. It's fresh existence is paid for by the old age and death of a worn out existence which has perished, but which contained the indestructible seed out of which the new existence has arisen: they are one being.”

AgeGivenEnjoyBornExistencePaidSeedsOld AgeWornReincarnationWorn OutIndestructibleFree GiftsBlithe
Book:The World As Will And Idea (Vol. 3 of 3)
Create image

“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.”

WayLittlesArtIdeasWould BeTurnsMoralVirtueProducePoetGeniusHolyMusicianInstrumentsNobleFoolishPainterEthicalAestheticVirtuousEmployedBarren
Author:Arthur Schopenhauer
Create image

“Poetry is related to philosophy as experience is related to empirical science. Experience makes us acquainted with the phenomenon in the particular and by means of examples, science embraces the whole of phenomena by means of general conceptions. So poetry seeks to make us acquainted with the Platonic Ideas through the particular and by means of examples. Philosophy aims at teaching, as a whole and in general, the inner nature of things which expresses itself in these. One sees even here that poetry bears more the character of youth, philosophy that of old age.”

MeanIdeasPhilosophyWholeCharacterAgeTeachingExampleYouthParticularBearsAimEmbraceOld AgeRelatedPoetry IsPhenomenonConceptionPlatonic
Book:The World As Will And Idea (Vol. 3 of 3)
Create image

“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.”

MenShouldBookUseHandsOrderMemoriesBehindsStepsForeverStudyHe ManBearsGainsShould HaveWeightRaisedBurdenInsightClimbsClimbingRejoiceLoadLaddersSummitBourne
Book:101 Facts of life
Create image

“The poet presents the imagination with images from life and human characters and situations, sets them all in motion and leaves itto the beholder to let these images take his thoughts as far as his mental powers will permit. This is why he is able to engage men of the most differing capabilities, indeed fools and sages together. The philosopher, on the other hand, presents not life itself but the finished thoughts which he has abstracted from it and then demands that the reader should think precisely as, and precisely as far as, he himself thinks. That is why his public is so small.”

ThinkingMenShouldHumansCharacterHandsAbleTogetherPoetryImaginationSituationPoetFoolReaderDemandPhilosophicalPhilosopherFinishedPermitCapabilitySageBeholderMental Power
Author:Arthur Schopenhauer
Create image

“Two Chinamen visiting Europe went to the theatre for the first time. One of them occupied himself with trying to understand the theatrical machinery, which he succeeded in doing. The other, despite his ignorance of the language, sought to unravel the meaning of the play. The former is like the astronomer, the latter the philosopher.”

TryingFirstsTwoPlayScienceLanguageIgnoranceFirst TimeEuropePhilosophicalPhilosopherTheatreDespiteFormerLatterMachineryVisitingTheatricalAstronomers
Author:Arthur Schopenhauer
Create image

“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.”

IfsMenWorldGivingMayLittlesHelpingTogetherArtistConsciousnessCompanyEffectsProduceSingingInstrumentsUnityVariousIntellectSettingSettingsPianoToneConcertsPrincipalOrchestraSymphony
Book:Counsels and Maxims
Create image

“In youth it is the outward aspect of things that most engages us; while in age, thought or reflection is the predominating qualityof the mind. Hence, youth is the time for poetry, and age is more inclined to philosophy. In practical affairs it is the same: a man shapes his resolutions in youth more by the impression that the outward world makes upon him; whereas, when he is old, it is thought that determines his actions.”

MenWorldMindPhilosophyAgeActionYouthShapesReflectionAspectAffairDeterminePracticalsImpressionResolution
Book:Counsels and Maxims: Top of Schopenhauer
Create image

“What a man can do and suffer is unknown to himself till some occasion presents itself which draws out the hidden power. Just as one sees not in the water of an unruffled pond the fury and roar with which it can dash down a steep rock without injury to itself, or how high it is capable of rising; or as little as one can suspect the latent heat in ice-cold water.”

MenLittlesSufferingWaterCan DoRocksColdCapableDrawsIceOccasionsHeatRisingInjurySuspectsFuryPondsLatentSteepCold Water
Author:Arthur Schopenhauer
Create image