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 happiness which we receive from ourselves is greater than that which we obtain from our surroundings. . . . The world in which a person lives shapes itself chiefly by the way in which he or she looks at it.
Interpretation
True happiness comes from within rather than from external circumstances.
In this quote, Schopenhauer emphasizes that the internal perspective and self-acceptance of an individual ultimately dictate their happiness. While external factors can provide temporary joy, lasting happiness is cultivated through one's attitude and viewpoint towards life.
In practice
During a motivational speech about self-acceptance.
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.
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.
Almost all of our sorrows spring out of our relations with other people.
Life is full of troubles and vexations, that one must either rise above it by means of corrected thoughts, or leave it.
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.
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.
No matter where you go, no matter how many gifts you give and receive this holiday season, unless you are actually present, it all flies by as if in a dream. Satisfaction in anything--a meal, an interaction, a gift, a sunset--depends on your willingness to take it in. Breathe. Feel your arms and your legs. You are allowed to love every little thing about yourself and your life. You are allowed to take up space and be all that you are. Really you are.
I HAVE ALWAYS believed that each man makes his own happiness and is responsible for his own problems.
When you are happy you can forgive a great deal.
Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real.
Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter, sermons and soda water the day after.
Give a man health and a course to steer, and he'll never stop to trouble about whether he's happy or not.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.