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SCHOPENHAUER, Arthur Quotes
(1788-1860), German philosopher
The mother of the useful art, is necessity; that of the fine arts, is luxury.—the former have intellect for their father; the latter, genius, which itself is kind of luxury.
Men best show their character in trifles, where they are not on their guard.—It is in insignificant matters, and in the simplest habits, that we often see the boundless egotism which pays no regard to the feelings of others, and denies nothing to itself.
Faith is like love: it cannot be forced.—As trying to force love begets hatred, so trying to compel religious belief leads to unbelief.
In estimating the greatness of great men, the inverted law of the physical stands for the intellectual and spiritual nature—the former is lessened by distance, the latter increased.
To the man who studies to gain a thorough insight into science, books and study are merely the steps of the ladder by which he climbs to the summit; as soon as a step has been advanced he leaves it behind.—The majority of mankind, however, who study to fill their memory with facts do not use the steps of the ladder to mount upward, but take them off and lay them on their shoulders in order that they may take them along, delighting in the weight of the burden they are carrying.—They ever remain below because they carry what should carry them.
We may divide thinkers into those who think for themselves, and those who think through others.—The latter are the rule, and the former the exception.—The first are original thinkers in a double sense, and egotists in the noblest meaning of the word.—It is from them only that the world learns wisdom —For only the light which we have kindled in ourselves can illuminate others.
A truth that is merely acquired from others only clings to us as a limb added to the body, or as a false tooth, or a wax nose. A truth we have acquired by our our own mental exertions, is like our natural limbs, which really belong to us.—This is exactly the difference between an original thinker and the mere learned man.
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