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
What a man is contributes much more to his happiness than what he has or how he is regarded by others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A person's intrinsic qualities and character significantly influence their happiness more than their possessions or the opinions of others.
This quote by Arthur Schopenhauer emphasizes that true happiness stems from one's own identity and values rather than external factors such as wealth or social status. It suggests that a person's character, actions, and beliefs play a more crucial role in achieving fulfillment and satisfaction than material achievements or the approval of society.
Themes
HappinessCharacterSelf-WorthFulfillmentValues
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about self-worth, this quote illustrates the importance of inner qualities over material possessions.
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.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
Almost all of our sorrows spring out of our relations with other people.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
Life is full of troubles and vexations, that one must either rise above it by means of corrected thoughts, or leave it.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
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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