Schopenhauer's Guide to Life: Live Your One and Only Life Like This

Author Arthur Schopenhauer · Publisher Heist · Published 2024-03-18 · ISBN 9791193282045

About the Book

Translator's Note

This book compiles various aphorisms and essays from Schopenhauer's major works, such as "Parerga and Paralipomena" and "The World as Will and Representation." Some passages have been reinterpreted to suit modern times. Through Schopenhauer's philosophy, I hope many people find help in dealing with their problems and finding inner peace.

Contents

Chapter 1: 'The Self'

When I Hate Myself Most… 16
01 “When life is hard, just rest”
02
What Makes Me Human… 19
“Humans must think to be human”
03
True Learning… 22
“Without will, there is no self in learning”
04
To Those Who Fear Death… 26
“One should not be concerned with life and death”
05
Why Intellectual Life is Absolutely Necessary… 30
“Intellectual life improves the quality of life”
06
What to Do When You Worry Too Much… 33
“You must get used to what is in front of you now”
07
Think the Worst… 37
“Rather, make negative possibilities the subject of your thoughts”
08
The Illusion That I Am the Most Dignified… 40
“In fact, people are not interested in anything but themselves”
09
The Trap of Success… 43
“You shouldn't accept everything from others as is”
10
Is It Really All Bad?… 45
“Without hardship, we cannot live as ourselves”
11
True Learning… 48
“Only what is discovered through independent thought holds immense value”
12
“As you get older, the life you've lived feels shorter”
Why Memories Fade… 51
13
“To be happy, eliminate happiness”
Deleting Happiness… 55
14
“Only brightness directly contributes to happiness”
Strive to be a Bright Person… 58
15
“You must move so that good energy can enter”
Brightness Comes from Movement… 60
16
“The hardest thing in the world is to know oneself”
The Power of Self-Knowledge… 63

Chapter 2: 'Work'

17
“Set your own standards for what keeps your body and mind from becoming unpleasant”
How to Find the Greatness Within You… 70
18
“Neatly accept misfortune as an event that has already passed”
The Cleanest Way to Overcome Misfortune… 74
19
“Diligence in everything is the secret to success”
The Paradox of Choice and Focus… 77
20
“Successful people are honest”
People Who Feel They Will Succeed… 81
21
“You must make full use of what you have been given”
Use What's in Your Pocket… 84
22
“Rejoice heartily in good results”
What Distinguishes Depressed People from Cheerful People… 87
23
“Avoiding disaster is a great achievement”
True Crisis Management… 90
24
“Think thoroughly, but decide quickly”
Thought and Decision… 93
25
“Once you start what you've decided to do, you don't get distracted by other things”
The True Meaning of Choice and Focus… 96
26
“Humans have a desire to be active”
Work That Earns Money and Satisfies Needs… 99
27
“Glory is given to those who rise again”
What Should Motivate You?… 102
28
“This life is something to be grateful for and precious”
The Value of This Life… 105
29
“There's no need to lament that passion has left”
No Need to Fear Retirement… 108
30
“The reward of work can only be found within oneself”
For Those Who Want to Enjoy Their Work… 111

Chapter 3: 'Waves'
31
“The more you have, the more obligations you have”
The more you acquire, the further freedom recedes… 116
32
“You must be able to distinguish between truth and falsehood”
Survival in a Heartless City… 120
33
“You should moderately question all knowledge”
What, How, and Why to Learn… 124
34
“The most powerful source of pleasure is health”
What You Should Take to a Desert Island… 127
35
“Are welfare benefits for the marginalized being effectively provided?”
The Two Sides of Human Rights Advancement… 130
36
“The happiness that material things bring is limited”
Does More Money Bring Happiness?… 133
37
“Satisfaction with possessions is relative for everyone”
Regarding Social Stratification… 136
38
“You don't need to try too hard to gain more wealth”
Balance Your Assets… 139
39
“Ask yourself often: What if this wasn't mine?”
Think of Loss Rather Than Acquisition… 142
40
“Even the trivial present is superior to the most glorious past”
The Most Expensive Thing Is Now… 145
41
“Seeing someone sadder than me makes me laugh”
Witnessing Tragedy… 148
42
“Reading changes the thinking person”
The Meaning of Reading… 151
43
“Humans create their own destiny through their character”
What Determines Destiny… 153
44
“Workers are left with only harder labor instead of payment for their work”
Workers Have Been Deceived for Hundreds of Years… 155
45
“Money can buy freedom, but it also makes humans a new kind of slave”
The Duality of Money… 159

Chapter 4: 'Relationships'
46
“The best way to distinguish comrades is by rumor”
The Closer You Are, the More You Get Hurt… 166
47
“Can honor and prestige truly be a source of pride?”
Honor is Nothing More Than a Crown Made of Paper… 169
48
“Parents begin to project onto their children the sacrifices they made”
Family, the Battlefield… 172
49
“Excessive relationship dependence is also a kind of illness”
I Am with Myself… 175
50
“Make friends with at least one person you can learn from”
Real Friends and Fake Friends… 178
51
“You can't always show people what they want to see”
Harmonious Relationships Come from Me… 181
52
“Let's free our lives from the gaze of others”
Don't Get Bogged Down by Others' Opinions… 184
53
“Simplify relationships as much as possible within a reasonable scope”
Misfortune Grows in Wide Open Spaces… 187
54
“You shouldn't be too kind to the other person”
The More Precious, the More Indifferent You Should Be… 190
55
“If you simply forget someone's mistake, they will make the same mistake again”
Don't Forgive Easily… 193
56
“Sometimes pretend to believe, sometimes pretend not to believe”
How to Win the Game… 196
57
“The best way to show anger or hatred is through action”
Be Cold in Your Anger… 199
58
“Abandon the illusion that you are the only one in the world who is depressed”
Solidarity in the Face of Depression… 201
59
“Confident people are rather taciturn”
How to Recognize a Skilled Person… 204
60
“Don't yield the opportunity to judge to others”
The Trap of Authority… 208