Quote

It would be better if there were nothing. Since there is more pain than pleasure on earth, every satisfaction is only transitory, creating new desires and new distresses, and the agony of the devoured animal is always far greater than the pleasure of the devourer

Arthur Schopenhauer

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Arthur Schopenhauer
Age: 72 †
Born: 1788
Born: February 22
Died: 1860
Died: September 21
Musicologist
Philosopher
Translator
University Teacher
Writer
Danzig
Better
Creating
Devourer
Nothing
Animal
Distresses
Every
Since
Devoured
Always
Pleasure
Transitory
Would
Greater
Agony
Pain
Distress
Desire
Desires
Earth
Satisfaction

More quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer

Image
We forfeit three-quarters of ourselves in order to be like other people.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
The greatest intellectual capacities are only found in connection with a vehement and passionate will.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Something of great importance now past is inferior to something of little importance now present, in that the latter is a reality, and related to the former as something to nothing.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Our first ideas of life are generally taken from fiction rather than fact.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
To forgive and forget means to throw away dearly bought experience.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Rudeness is better than any argument it totally eclipses intellect.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
In their hearts women think that it is men's business to earn money and theirs to spend it.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
The fourfold root of the principle of sufficent reason is Anything perceived has a cause. All conclusions have premises. All effects have causes. All actions have motives.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
You must treat a work of art like a great man: stand before it and wait patiently till it deigns to speak.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Want and boredom are indeed the twin poles of human life.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
A man's face as a rule says more, and more interesting things, than his mouth, for it is a compendium of everything his mouth will ever say, in that it is the monogram of all this man's thoughts and aspirations.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
There is one respect in which beasts show real wisdom... their quiet, placid enjoyment of the present moment.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
What give all that is tragic, whatever its form, the characteristic of the sublime, is the first inkling of the knowledge that the world and life can give no satisfaction, and are not worth our investment in them. The tragic spirit consists in this. Accordingly it leads to resignation.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Nothing shocks our moral feelings so deeply as cruelty does. We can forgive every other crime, but not cruelty. The reason for this is that it is the very opposite of compassion.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Means at our disposal should be regarded as a bulwark against the many evils and misfortunes that can occur. We should not regard such wealth as a permission or even an obligation to procure for ourselves the pleasures of the world.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Wealth as well as sea water. The more we drink, the more thirsty. The so famous
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Ist es an und fu? r sich absurd, das Nichtsein fu? r einUbel zu ? halten da jedes Ubel wie jedes Gut das Dasein zur Voraussetzung hat, ja sogar das Bewusstsein. It is in and by itself absurd to regard non-existence as an evil for every evil, like every good, presupposes existence, indeed even consciousness.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
The wise have always said the same things, and fools, who are the majority have always done just the opposite.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
At the age of five years to enter a spinning-cotton or other factory, and from that time forth to sit there daily, first ten, then twelve, and ultimately fourteen hours, performing the same mechanical labour, is to purchase dearly the satisfaction of drawing breath. But this is the fate of millions, and that of millions more is analogous to it.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
The principle of contradiction establishes merely the agreement of concepts, but does not itself produce concepts.
Arthur Schopenhauer