Clear water Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
““In order to elucidate especially and most clearly the origination of this error (...) let us imagine a man who, while standing on the street, would say to himself: "It is six o'clock in the evening, the working day is over. Now I can go for a walk, or I can go to the club; I can also climb up the tower to see the sunset; I can go to the theater; I can visit this friend or that one; indeed, I also can run out of the gate, into the wide world, and never return. All of this is strictly up to me, in this I have complete freedom. But still I shall do none of these things now , but with just as free a will I shall go home to my wife". This is exactly as if water spoke to itself: "I can make high waves (yes! in the sea during a storm), I can rush down hill (yes! in the river bed), I can plunge down foaming and gushing (yes! in the waterfall), I can rise freely as a stream of water into the air (yes! in the fountain), I can, finally boil away and disappear (yes! at a certain temperature); but I am doing none of these things now, and am voluntaringly remaining quiet and clear water in the reflecting pond.””
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Essay: On Freedom of the Will, 1841
Even with unlimited choices, one may choose inaction, illustrating true freedom as restraint.
In simple terms: Freedom can mean choosing to do nothing.
Recognize the power of deliberate stillness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- daily decision making
- creative pauses
- meditation
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When does restraint become stagnation?
- How does deliberate stillness serve growth?
Inaction can be missed as avoidance.