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 Universe is a dream dreamed by a single dreamer where all the dream characters dream too.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that reality is a collective illusion experienced by all beings, originating from a singular consciousness.
Arthur Schopenhauer's quote presents a philosophical perspective where the entirety of the universe and existence is likened to a dream. In this metaphor, the 'single dreamer' symbolizes a fundamental consciousness or source from which all beings emerge as 'dream characters', each of whom experiences their own individual reality. This illustrates the interconnectedness of all existence and the subjective nature of reality, inviting contemplation about the nature of consciousness and perception.
Themes
UniverseDreamConsciousnessRealityIllusion
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophy class discussing the nature of reality.
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.
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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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