Quote

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

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
Great
Former
Something
Importance
Present
Reality
Past
Inferior
Littles
Inferiors
Little
Latter
Nothing
Related

More quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer

Image
Every nation ridicules other nations, and all are right.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Ignorance is degrading only when found in company with great riches.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Honour is external conscience, and conscience is inward honour.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Every genius is a great child he gazes out at the world as something strange, a spectacle, and therefore with purely objective interest
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Hope is the confusion of the desire for a thing with its probability.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
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
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
There is no more mistaken path to happiness than worldliness, revelry, high life.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
The first rule for a good style is to have something to say in fact, this in itself is almost enough.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
It often happens that we blurt out things that may in some kind of way be harmful to us, but we are silent about things that may make us look ridiculous because in this case effect follows very quickly on cause.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
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
Image
A reproach can only hurt if it hits the mark. Whoever knows that he does not deserve a reproach can treat it with contempt.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
The heavy armor becomes the light dress of childhood the pain is brief, the joy unending.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Many books serve merely to show how many ways there are of being wrong, and how far astray you yourself would go if you followed their guidance. You should read only when your own thoughts dry up.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
I love looking at famous people. Because of the way they look. Because of the way photography makes them look famous.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Human existence is an error...it is bad today and every day it gets worse, until the worst happens.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Pride works _from within_ it is the direct appreciation of oneself. Vanity is the desire to arrive at this appreciation indirectly, from without.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
When a new truth enters the world, the first stage of reaction to it is ridicule, the second stage is violent opposition, and in the third stage, that truth comes to be regarded as self-evident.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
Everything that happens, happens of necessity.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Image
The charlatan takes very different shapes according to circumstances but at bottom he is a man who cares nothing about knowledge for its own sake, and only strives to gain the semblance of it that he may use it for his own personal ends, which are always selfish and material.
Arthur Schopenhauer