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
The wise have always said the same things, and fools, who are the majority have always done just the opposite.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wise individuals often share universal truths, while the majority ignore this wisdom and act contrary to it.
This quote by Arthur Schopenhauer emphasizes the idea that true wisdom is timeless and often repeated by those who understand it. In contrast, it suggests that the majority of people tend to overlook or resist these insights, often leading to actions that contradict the wisdom that was shared. It highlights a fundamental disconnect between knowledge and behavior in society.
Themes
WisdomFoolsKnowledgeSocietyTruth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech to illustrate the importance of valuing wisdom in decision-making.
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.
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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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