Animal Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
“Just as a stream flows smoothly on as long as it encounters no obstruction, so the nature of man and animal is such that we never really notice or become conscious of what is agreeable to our will; if we are to notice something, our will has to have been thwarted, has to have experienced a shock of some kind.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The World as Will and Representation, Arthur Schopenhauer, 1818
Human consciousness only registers when desires are blocked, not when they flow freely.
In simple terms: We notice only obstacles to our will.
Key Takeaway
Pay attention to subtle frustrations.
Themes
philosophy
human nature
consciousness
Mood
contemplative
reflective
Type
philosophical
insightful
When to use this quote
- daily life
- personal reflection
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Will
perception
obstruction
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden desires emerge when you feel blocked?
- How do you respond to unexpected setbacks?
A Different Perspective
Even minor irritations can reveal deeper motivations.
![“[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)
