Quote

There are, first of all, two kinds of authors: those who write for the subject's sake, and those who write for writing's sake. ... The truth is that when an author begins to write for the sake of covering paper, he is cheating the reader because he writes under the pretext that he has something to say.

Arthur Schopenhauer

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Arthur Schopenhauer
Age: 72 †
Born: 1788
Born: February 22
Died: 1860
Died: September 21
Musicologist
Philosopher
Translator
University Teacher
Writer
Danzig
Write
Author
Two
Begins
Truth
Kinds
Firsts
Subject
Pretext
First
Sake
Covering
Subjects
Cheating
Writing
Reader
Authors
Kind
Paper
Writes
Something

More quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer

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Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in order to shine.
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Great men are like eagles, and build their nest on some lofty solitude.
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It is a curious fact that in bad days we can very vividly recall the good time that is now no more but that in good days, we have only a very cold and imperfect memory of the bad.
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To be alone is the fate of all great minds—a fate deplored at times, but still always chosen as the less grievous of two evils.
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Vulgar people take huge delight in the faults and follies of great men.
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The reason domestic pets are so lovable and so helpful to us is because they enjoy, quietly and placidly, the present moment.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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Style is what gives value and currency to thoughts.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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If you feel irritated by the absurd remarks of two people whose conversation you happen to overhear, you should imagine that you are listening to a dialogue of two fools in a comedy.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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There is only one healing force, and that is nature in pills and ointments there is none. At most they can give the healing force of nature a hint about where there is something for it to do.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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All religions promise a reward beyond life, in eternity, for excellences of the will or heart, but none for excellences of the head or understanding.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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Memory works like the collection glass in the Camera obscura: it gathers everything together and therewith produces a far more beautiful picture than was present originally.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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If a man wants to read good books, he must make a point of avoiding bad ones for life is short, and time and energy limited.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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Man shows his character best in trifles.
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How entirely does the Upanishad breathe throughout the holy spirit of the Vedas! How is every one who by a diligent study of its Persian Latin has become familiar with that incomparable book stirred by that spirit to the very depth of his Soul !
Arthur Schopenhauer
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There is no doubt that life is given us, not to be enjoyed, but to be overcome to be got over.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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Anyone can squash a bug but all professors of this world couldn't build one.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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Our life is a loan received from death with sleep as the daily interest on this loan.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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It is a wise thing to be polite consequently, it is a stupid thing to be rude. To make enemies by unnecessary and willful incivility, is just as insane a proceeding as to set your house on fire. For politeness is like a counter--an avowedly false coin, with which it is foolish to be stingy.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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He who writes carelessly confesses thereby at the very outset that he does not attach much importance to his own thoughts.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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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