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
In our early youth we sit before the life that lies ahead of us like children sitting before the curtain in a theatre, in happy and tense anticipation of whatever is going to appear. Luckily we do not know what really will appear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the innocence of youth and the unknown future that awaits us.
Arthur Schopenhauer's quote compares youth to children eagerly awaiting a performance in a theater, symbolizing the hopeful yet uncertain outlook on life. The anticipation of what the future holds is both exciting and nerve-wracking, and Schopenhauer emphasizes that this uncertainty is a blessing, as it allows for infinite possibilities and adventures that we cannot foresee.
Themes
YouthAnticipationFutureUnknownLifePossibilities
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a graduation speech to inspire students about their future.
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.
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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.
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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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