Essays and Aphorisms

This selection of thoughts on religion, ethics, politics, women, suicide, books, and much more is taken from Schopenhauer's last work, Parerga and Paralipo-mena, published in 1851. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading pu

Characters

Arthur Schopenhauer (5)

Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become.

— Arthur Schopenhauer, amazon.com

Wealth Thirst Desire

It is a wise thing to be polite; consequently, it is a stupid thing to be rude. To make enemies by unnecessary and willful incivility, is just as insane a proceeding as to set your house on fire. For politeness is like a counter--an avowedly false coin, with which it is foolish to be stingy.

— Arthur Schopenhauer, amazon.com

Manner character Rude Politeness

Man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills.

— Arthur Schopenhauer, amazon.com

Will Idealism determined Pessimism

A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.

— Arthur Schopenhauer, amazon.com

Alone Solitude Freedom

Honra y provecho no caben en un saco (Honor and profit cannot fit in a single bag.)

— Arthur Schopenhauer, amazon.com

Life

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