We can come to look upon the deaths of our enemies with as much regret as we feel for those of our friends, namely, when we miss their existence as witnesses to our success.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination: both depend on being outside rather than inside a situation, and one leads to the other.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Boredom and fascination are interconnected states influenced by one's perspective on a situation.
In this quote, Arthur Schopenhauer highlights the relationship between boredom and fascination, suggesting that they are two sides of the same coin. When one is engaged from an outside perspective, they can either view a situation as dull, leading to boredom, or be captivated by its complexities, resulting in fascination. Therefore, the transition from boredom to fascination or vice versa depends on one's outlook and engagement with the circumstances at hand.
Themes
BoredomFascinationPerspectiveSituationEngagement
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about finding joy in daily tasks, this quote can remind listeners about the importance of perspective.
More from Arthur Schopenhauer
All quotes βTo be shocked at how deeply rejection hurts is to ignore what acceptance involves. We must never allow our suffering to be compounded by suggestions that there is something odd in suffering so deeply. There would be something amiss if we didn't.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
Almost all of our sorrows spring out of our relations with other people.
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Life is full of troubles and vexations, that one must either rise above it by means of corrected thoughts, or leave it.
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Our religions will never at any time take root; the ancient wisdom of the human race will not be supplanted by the events in Galilee. On the contrary, Indian wisdom flows back to Europe, and will produce a fundamental change in our knowledge and thought.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
We will gradually become indifferent to what goes on in the minds of other people when we acquire a knowledge of the superficial nature of their thoughts, the narrowness of their views and of the number of their errors. Whoever attaches a lot of value to the opinions of others pays them too much honor.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
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