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
At bottom, every state regards another as a gang of robbers who will fall upon it as soon as there is an opportunity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the intrinsic distrust and conflict between states, suggesting that cooperation is often overshadowed by a fear of betrayal.
Arthur Schopenhauer's quote highlights a cynical view of international relations, where each state perceives others as potential threats, akin to robbers ready to seize an opportunity for gain. This perspective underscores the notion that even among nations, the absence of trust can lead to a vicious cycle of suspicion and aggression, indicating a deeper philosophical inquiry into human nature and societal organization.
Themes
StatesTrustConflictSuspicionPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about international relations at a political conference.
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.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
Life is full of troubles and vexations, that one must either rise above it by means of corrected thoughts, or leave it.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
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
Similar quotes
Realization consists of getting rid of the false idea that one is not realized.
Ramana MaharshiRead
There is nothing so absurd that some philosopher has not already said it.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Our particular problem in America at this point in history is the widespread loss of the sense of individual significance, a loss which is sensed inwardly as impotence.
Rollo MayRead
A person doesn't die when he should but when he can.
Gabriel Garcia MarquezRead
Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that intervention has been welcomed by the captains of finance and industry. They had no quarrel with "big government" when it served their needs.
Howard ZinnRead
When it comes to the news, the corporate view is `objective,' all else is propaganda.
Studs TerkelRead