75 Quotes from the Genius of Pessimism Arthur Schopenhauer

Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher who is often called the “philosopher of pessimism”.

He was born on 22 February 1788 in Danzig (now Gdańsk), Poland. His parents, Johanna Schopenhauer (née Trosiener) and Heinrich Floris Schopenhauer were descendants of wealthy German families. They relocated to Hamburg after Prussia annexed Danzig in 1793.

Schopenhauer enrolled at the University of Gottingen in 1809. During studying, he focused on philosophy and especially the ideas of Plato and Immanuel Kant. In 1819, after four years of work (1814 - 1818), he published The World as Will and Representation (Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung). A year after that, Schopenhauer became a lecturer at the University of Berlin. Because of the rivalry with Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and a small group of students who had attended his lectures, he soon left the academy.

Schopenhauer believed that the world is driven by a continually dissatisfied will which constantly seeks satisfaction. He considered that humans are motivated by their own basic desires and that their actions are directionless. According to him, the main problem is the desire which is the root of suffering and pain.

Arthur Schopenhauer had a great influence on others thinkers. His popularity peaked in the early twentieth century, during the Modernist era. Many great minds like Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Wagner and Jorge Luis Borges have cited Schopenhauer as their major influence.

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[johnmiller]

Reading Studies in Pessimism brought me great comfort. Finally I found I was not alone in the world and someone would tell the truth. I think Arthur Schopenhauer was the world's greatest and most honest philosopher. .

[heracles]

The one philosopher who speaks directly to the soul

[vanessa]

Wow...this quote captures it all for me, "...If he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free." This explains why I have turned down many marriage proposals. I love freedom and solitude at my core despite the occasional and passing want of company.

[jameshunter]

...I appreciate the work that each quote was cited being shown--will really help my research!

[spiritualopportunism]

"No doubt, when modesty was made a virtue, it was very a advantageous thing for the fools, for everybody is expected to speak of himself as if he were one." Hilarious, and oh so true.

[miscellaneousstuff]

With Schopenhauer sense attached to every sentence, he has so many bright points that abundance of quotes has been just overwhelming.

[bobdobbs]

I shall be told, I suppose that my philosophy is comfortless because I speak the truth; and people prefer to believe that everything the Lord made is good. If you are onesuch, go to the priests, and leave philosophers in peace!
Schopenhauer

[themoralcreed]

"To be alone is the fate of all great minds" (3:45). Well shit.

[adami]

I might stay around a little longer now that I found Schopenhauer

[broughty]

Thank you for providing the exact Works references

[thegrotesque]

this just makes me feel more cooler....I always keep to myself...

[rosturzislandii]

I see somebody wrote the same I think, namely that Schopenhauer is no pessimist. He simply states as it is.

[Danny_On_Wheels]

Amazing quotes, gonna have to get some of his books!

[chakradharhadke]

OBSTINACY IS THE RESULT OF WILL FORCING ITSELF INTO THE PLACE OF THE INTELLECT 💙🌷🙏.

[chakradharhadke]

IT'S ONLY THE FIRST ENCOUNTER THAT A FACE MAKES ITS FULL IMPRESSION ON US💙🌷🙏.

[dwg]

Thanks for posting. Something to play over and over again for contemplation. I found what looks like a typo at 6:04 "Religion is [...] "the way they shall thing", where "thing" no doubt should be "think".

[schneeeule]

pessimism is not negativ thinking, but konsequent thinking.

[chakradharhadke]

TO BE ALONE IS LIKE THE FATE OF THE GREAT MINDS💙🌷🙏.

[chakradharhadke]

MONEY IS HUMANITY HAPPINESS IN THE ABSTRACT. HE, THEN, NO LONGER CAPABLE OF ENJOYING HUMAN HAPPINESS IN THE CONCRETE DEVOTES HIS HEART ENTIRE TO BUSINESS 💙🌷🙏.

[chakradharhadke]

THE WORLD💚OF MAN IS THE MOST DURABLE OF ALL OTHER MATERIAL💚 🌷🙏.