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.
The common man is not concerned about the passage of time, the man of talent is driven by it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The average person may not think much about time, while talented individuals feel a strong urgency to utilize it effectively.
This quote by Arthur Schopenhauer highlights the different perspectives on time between the common individual and those with exceptional abilities. While the average person may take time for granted, focusing on daily routines and distractions, the talented are acutely aware of time's value and are often motivated to make the most of it. They understand that time is a finite resource that must be managed wisely to achieve greatness.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the importance of productivity, one could quote Schopenhauer to illustrate how talent comes with a sense of urgency.
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.
Almost all of our sorrows spring out of our relations with other people.
Life is full of troubles and vexations, that one must either rise above it by means of corrected thoughts, or leave it.
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.
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.
Similar quotes
If you want to be wrong then follow the masses.
What should we think of someone who never admits error, never entertains doubt but adheres unflinchingly to the same ideas all his life, regardless of new evidence? Doubt and skepticism are signs of rationality. When we are too certain of our opinions, we run the risk of ignoring any evidence that conflicts with our views. It is doubt that shows we are still thinking, still willing to reexamine hardened beliefs when confronted with new facts and new evidence.
You have to feed your soul and spirit, but you also have to be a professional and remember the business that you're in. Everything is not your passion project.
Like a man who has been dying for many days, a man in your city is numb to the stench.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.