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
We forfeit three-quarters of ourselves in order to be like other people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that in trying to conform to societal expectations, we lose our individuality.
Arthur Schopenhauer emphasizes the detrimental impact of societal pressure on personal identity. By attempting to fit in and please others, we sacrifice a significant part of who we are, diminishing our uniqueness and authenticity. This call to self-awareness urges individuals to value their true selves rather than conform to external expectations.
Themes
IdentityConformityIndividualitySelf-AwarenessAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about self-acceptance.
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.
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
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