958 Quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer

It is the courage to make a clean breast of it in the face of every question that makes the philosopher.

National character is only another name for the particular form which the littleness, perversity and baseness of mankind take in every country. Every nation mocks at other nations, and all are right.

Mankind cannot get on without a certain amount of absurdity.

Consider the Koran, for example; this wretched book was sufficient to start a world-religion, to satisfy the metaphysical need of countless millions for twelve hundred years, to become the basis of their morality and of a remarkable contempt for death, and also to inspire them to bloody wars and the most extensive conquests. In this book we find the saddest and poorest form of theism. Much may be lost in translation, but I have not been able to discover in it one single idea of value.

Will without intellect is the most vulgar and common thing in the world, possessed by every blockhead, who, in the gratification of his passions, shows the stuff of which he is made.

With people of only moderate ability modesty is mere honesty; but with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy

For, as you know, religions are like glow-worms; they shine only when it is dark.

We forfeit three-quarters of ourselves in order to be like other people.

Fame is something that must be won. Honor is something that must not be lost.