Buddha Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
““I was gripped by the misery of life as Buddha was in his youth when he saw sickness, old age, pain and death. The truth … was that this world could not have been the work of an all-loving Being, but rather that of a devil, who had brought creatures into existence in order to delight in the sight of their sufferings; to this the data pointed, and the belief that it is so won the upper hand.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The World as Will and Representation, Arthur Schopenhauer, 1818
He observed that suffering and death reveal a world not created by a benevolent deity but by a malevolent force, leading to a pessimistic view of existence.
In simple terms: Suffering suggests a cruel creator.
Key Takeaway
Recognize life's inherent suffering.
Themes
pessimism
philosophy
existential
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- grief
- death
- illness
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Metaphysics
theodicy
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this perspective affect your daily choices?
- Can suffering coexist with meaning?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook moments of joy and compassion.
![“[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)
