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
Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in order to shine.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Religions often find significance and meaning in times of difficulty or darkness.
Arthur Schopenhauer's quote suggests that religions thrive in challenging times, much like fireflies that illuminate the night. In darkness, people seek comfort, guidance, and hope, which religions provide, thereby enabling them to shine or play a pivotal role in people's lives when faced with adversity or uncertainty.
Themes
ReligionDarknessLightSignificanceAdversity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about faith, I might say, 'As Schopenhauer wisely noted, religions are like fireflies; they shine brightest in our darkest hours.'
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.
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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.
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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