6 Great Sayings From Western Philosophy

The great sayings of Western Philosophy capture some of the most daring and helpful thoughts humans have ever exchanged. Here is a list of our favourites, which reflect the adventure and wisdom of philosophical history.

FURTHER READING

“‘What need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears.’ The Roman philosopher Seneca used to comfort his friends – and himself – with this darkly humourous remark which gets to the heart of Stoicism, the school of philosophy which Seneca helped to found and which dominated the West for two hundred years. We get weepy and furious, says Stoicism, not simply because our plans have failed, but because they have failed and we strongly expected them not to. Therefore, thought Seneca, the task of philosophy is to disappoint us gently before life has a chance to do so violently. The less we expect, the less we will suffer. Through the help of a consoling pessimism, we should strive to turn our rage and our tears into that far less volatile compound: sadness. Seneca was not trying to depress us, just to spare us the kind of hope that, when it fails, inspires bitterness and intemperate shouting.…”

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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:
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[Meteaura]

1. 'What need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears.' 0:18
2. 'Peccatum Originale (Original sin) 1:22
3. 'Kings and philosophers shit, and so do ladies' 2:35
4. 'All our unhappiness comes from our inability to sit alone in our room.' 3:44
5. Sub Specie Aeternitatis (under the aspect of eternity) 5:06
6. 'Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.' 6:13

[hectorroche]

What about Goethe?
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
"Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words."
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."

[tadlord]

Western philosophy is really complex emo culture

[marioa-b]

Alain de Botton's delivery is calm, succinct and in my view clear enough to appeal to a wide audience. He might well be remembered as a man who reminded our neurotic n technocratic society of the importance of good questions, wisdom through the ages and the use of philosophy.

[mo]

I actually apply all of these amazing Philosophies in my life.
I've been a subscriber for 2 years now, and I can't believe how much I've grown both mentally and emotionally.
Thank you The School of Life and thank you Alain de Botton.

[thewitness]

"The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding because to understand is to be free" (Baruch Spinoza)

[wemusicbox]

I never comment on YouTube but this time I really had to. I can't express what I felt when reading Pascale's saying. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you.

[timmymorris]

I loved the graphics in this video, especially the lobster hands.

[littleblueclovers]

I was getting nervous and procrastinating an important speech I had to do, but listening to this gave me the confidence to just go for it and do my best :)

[SomeLoser]

I don't think it's possible for me to love your channel more than I already do.

[matthewbateman]

As a theist, I am appreciative - time, and again - that your videos are not squeamish about theological ideas; and even though you make it pretty clear that this is not a theological channel (not a 'believing' channel, you could say), you are not 'anti-theist', so to speak, but show a positive point of view, even when you may not personally espouse the belief. Even if the Garden of Eden is a myth or metaphor, it does relay a truth: We are flawed, down to our soul and bones. Very nice to be thinking together in this sleepy and distracted age! Thanks!

[samfrancisco]

"Being lost is the inability to draw a point of reference from where you are to where you should be." Acid trip in Quetico Provincial Park during a 2 week canoe trip in 1975.

[bolivar]

Here are some of my favourites from all over the place:

1. No plan survives the first punch. Mike Tyson

Seneca could have perfectly said that too! You should be as well prepared as you can, but also always be ready for the worst to come.

2. Cervantes was a very wise and funny man. In Don Quijote he said:

" Every man is just the way God made him and often even worst"

( Cada uno es como Dios le hizo, y aun peor muchas veces )

3. The wisest person in the world, finally tracked down to a remote mountain-top, offered humanity only a single word of advice: ENDURE!

Alain de Botton

4. Do you think you won't die?? ( My mother ) Well she keeps saying this at every argument since I was a child. It is a cruel thing to do and of course it is very ironic that the person who brought you to life also be the one who constantly reminds you of death. But she surely does have a point.

5." I have been a lucky man, nothing in my life has been easy". Sigmund Freud

6. Maturity' really means: being very unsurprised by, and calm around, pain and disappointment. Alain de Botton

7. " I don't know if it is human nature or the way of life on earth, but we seldom become all of who we are until forced to it. Some say that something in us rises to the occasion, that there is, as Hemingway called it " a grace under pressure" that comes forth in most of us when challenged". Mark Nepo

8. You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” - Franz Kafka

9. "We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are". Mark Williams.

10. " My experience is what I agree to attend to. Only those things which I notice shape my mind". William James

11.
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

Emily Dickinson

12. “We have a choice. We can embrace our humanness, which means embracing our broken natures and the compassion that remains our best hope of healing. Or we can deny our brokenness, forswear compassion, and, as a result, deny our own humanity”

Bryan Stevenson ( From the book " Just Mercy, A Story of Justice and Redemption". )

13. Finally a very consoling and important quote for all night bird friends who feel guilty about not being able to wake up early in the morning :- )

"The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese! "

[CalebAlucardtheHagan]

I always appreciates videos like these--and The School of Life in particular--because it simply brings me back to a place of (albeit temporarily) clarity and contentment.

[subhadrachaulagain]

This is the best quote which explains so much about life,
At the end of the day we swallow the pain, accept the reality and smile. That's how life works.☺️😊

[hamzasaleem]

I think this video is the summary of everything this channel taught us

[michaelp]

You guys forgot the best one of all. “Cash me ousside, how bout dat?”

[AngelOne]

This is similar to Buddhism except in Buddhism they teach the final result of no expectation is freedom and happiness. It's very true. As a Zen practitioner for many years. It works and I am happy with no expectations from life or others.
May all humanity be free from expectations and live a happy healthy balanced life!

[priscilaporto]

What is evil?—Whatever springs from weakness. Friedrich Nietzsche

[iggypopshot]

Watching this has made me put the curriculum parts one and two on as my next play list. Thanks SOL