Books Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
““Consider the Koran, for example; this wretched book was sufficient to start a world-religion, to satisfy the metaphysical needs of countless millions for twelve hundred years, to become the basis of their morality and of a remarkable contempt for death, and also to inspire them to bloody wars and the most extensive conquests. Much may be lost in translation, but I have not been able to discover in it one single idea of value.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The World as Will and Representation, 1818
He critiques the Quran as lacking substantive ideas, viewing it as a source of conflict and moral contempt rather than philosophical value.
In simple terms: He sees the Quran as empty of valuable ideas.
Key Takeaway
Question the depth of religious texts critically.
Themes
religion
philosophy
critique
Mood
skeptical
provocative
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- interfaith dialogue
- historical analysis
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
metaphysics
morality
cultural impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of the Quran might be considered valuable?
- How does cultural bias affect religious critique?
A Different Perspective
His view is dismissive and may ignore the text’s spiritual significance for believers.
![“However often we turn to it [the Koran] at first disgusting us each time afresh, it soon attracts, astounds, and in the end enforces our reverence. . . . Its style, in accordance with its contents and aim is stern, grand, terrible - ever and anon truly sublime - Thus this book will go on…” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/75c/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_age_however-often-we-turn-to-it-the-koran-at_1995602.jpg)
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
![“[Materialism] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism, to chemism, to polarity, to the vegetable and to the animal kingdom. And if we suppose this to have been done, the last link in the chain would be…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal-kingdom_materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-s_50402.jpg)
