Arbitrary Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
“Suffering by nature or chance never seems so painful as suffering inflicted on us by the arbitrary will of another.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: The World as Will and Representation, 1818
Suffering caused by another’s arbitrary will feels more painful than natural or random hardship.
In simple terms: Pain inflicted by others feels worse than fate.
Key Takeaway
Guard against allowing others’ whims to dominate your life.
Themes
suffering
free will
arbitrariness
pain
Mood
philosophical
serious
Type
reflective
When to use this quote
- conflict
- abuse
- manipulation
- legal disputes
Key Concepts
existentialism
moral philosophy
human agency
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you distinguish between unavoidable fate and harmful intent?
- How do you protect yourself from arbitrary cruelty?
A Different Perspective
Not all suffering can be avoided; external control is limited.
![“[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)
