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
A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Solitude is essential for self-discovery and true freedom.
This quote emphasizes the importance of solitude in understanding one's true self and experiencing genuine freedom. Schopenhauer asserts that without the ability to appreciate being alone, one cannot fully embrace the concept of freedom, as it is in solitude that individuals are able to reflect, think deeply, and connect with their authentic selves.
Themes
SolitudeFreedomSelf-DiscoveryIndependenceReflection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could inspire a discussion on the benefits of alone time in a mental health seminar.
More from Arthur Schopenhauer
All quotes →To 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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