Animal Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
“Personal courage is really a very subordinate virtue-a virtue, indeed, in which we are surpassed by the lower animals; or else you would not hear people say, as brave as a lion.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The World as Will and Representation, 1818
True courage is a lesser virtue, often eclipsed by animal instinct; bravery is not as noble as it seems.
In simple terms: Courage is subordinate to instinct.
Key Takeaway
Don’t overvalue bravery alone.
Themes
courage
virtue
human nature
Mood
critical
philosophical
Type
ethical
reflective
When to use this quote
- risk taking
- leadership
- personal growth
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- Is bravery always virtuous?
- What virtues surpass courage?
A Different Perspective
Courage can be misguided without wisdom.
![“[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)
