“The true basis and propaedeutic for all knowledge of human nature is the persuasion that a man's actions are, essentially and as a whole, not directed by his reason and its designs; so that no one becomes this or that because he wants to, though he want to never so much, but that his conduct proceeds from his inborn and inalterable character, is narrowly and in particulars determined by motivation, and is thus necessarily the product of these two factors.”
Arthur Schopenhauer“Because people have no thoughts to deal in, they deal cards, and try and win one another's money. Idiots!”
Arthur Schopenhauer“Satisfaction consists in freedom from pain, which is the positive element of life.”
Arthur Schopenhauer“Almost all of our sorrows spring out of our relations with other people.”
Arthur Schopenhauer“Great men are like eagles, and build their nest on some lofty solitude.”
Arthur Schopenhauer“With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy.”
Arthur Schopenhauer“It is only a man's own fundamental thoughts that have truth and life in them. For it is these that he really and completely understands. To read the thoughts of others is like taking the remains of someone else's meal, like putting on the discarded clothes of a stranger.”
Arthur Schopenhauer“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“The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.”
Arthur Schopenhauer