--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is more, in fact, we very soon look…" description: "\"“What is more, in fact, we very soon look upon the world as something whose non-existence is not only conceivable, but even preferable to its existence..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/arthur-schopenhauer-226_existence_what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-u_3014079.jpg" --- # What is more, in fact, we very soon look upon the world as… ![“What is more, in fact, we very soon look upon the world as something whose non-existence is not only conceivable, but even preferable to its existence. Therefore our astonishment at it easily passes into a brooding over that *fatality* which could nevertheless bring about its existence, and by…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/arthur-schopenhauer-226_existence_what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-u_3014079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/arthur-schopenhauer-226_existence_what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-u_3014079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/arthur-schopenhauer-226_existence_what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-u_3014079.jpg) > ““What is more, in fact, we very soon look upon the world as something whose non-existence is not only conceivable, but even preferable to its existence. Therefore our astonishment at it easily passes into a brooding over that \*fatality\* which could nevertheless bring about its existence, and by virtue of which such an immense force as is demanded for the production and maintenance of such a world could be directed so much against its own interest and advantage." ―from\_The World as Will and Representation\_. Translated from the German by E. F. J. Payne. In Two Volumes, Volume II, p. 171”” [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Existence may be undesirable; the force that creates the world could be directed against its own benefit, leading to fatalism. **In simple terms:** World existence may be harmful; its creation may be self‑defeating. Key Takeaway Question the value of existence. Themes existentialism fatalism will metaphysics Mood reflective somber Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - academic debate - personal existential crisis - creative work - political theory Key Concepts philosophy ontology theology Questions to Reflect On - Is it possible to find meaning despite fatality? - How does this view affect moral responsibility? A Different Perspective Such pessimism can hinder constructive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceivable Preferable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceivable-preferable-4846067/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Conceivable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-conceivable-4846066/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Metaphysics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysics/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Preferable Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferable-existence-4846065/) [Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schopenhauer/) [World Representation\_](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-representation-4846064/) ## Related quotes > [“From \*the form of time and of the single dimension\* of the series of representations, on account of which the intellect, in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/from-the-form-of-time-and-of-the-single-dimension-of-the-series-of/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“In consequence of the inevitably scattered and fragmentary nature of our thinking, which has been mentioned, and of the mixing together of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/in-consequence-of-the-inevitably-scattered-and-fragmentary-nature-of/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Given that bringing a life into existence always constitutes a harm (since that life will inevitably suffer at various points), whereas the absence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-graham/given-that-bringing-a-life-into-existence-always-constitutes-a-harm/) [Jacob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-graham/) > [“... life may be compared to a piece of embroidery, of which, during the first half of his time, a man gets a sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/life-may-be-compared-to-a-piece-of-embroidery-of-which-during-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“However, the struggle with that sentinel is, as a rule, not so hard as it may seem from a long way off, mainly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/however-the-struggle-with-that-sentinel-is-as-a-rule-not-so-hard-as/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“We also find \*physics\*, in the widest sense of the word, concerned with the explanation of phenomena in the world; but it lies already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/we-also-find-physics-in-the-widest-sense-of-the-word-concerned-with/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“What was it that led the Cynics to repudiate pleasure in any form, if it was not the fact that pain is, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/what-was-it-that-led-the-cynics-to-repudiate-pleasure-in-any-form-if/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Reading is thinking with someone else's head instead of ones own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/reading-is-thinking-with-someone-else-s-head-instead-of-ones-own/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [If God made this world, then i would not want to be the God. It is full of misery and distress that it breaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/if-god-made-this-world-then-i-would-not-want-to-be-the-god-it-is-full/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“A solidão é a sorte de todos os espíritos excepcionais.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/a-solid-o-a-sorte-de-todos-os-esp-ritos-excepcionais/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“The true basis and propaedeutic for all knowledge of human nature is the persuasion that a man's actions are, essentially and as a whole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-true-basis-and-propaedeutic-for-all-knowledge-of-human-nature-is/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Now this was possible only by a man determining himself entirely \*rationally\* according to concepts, not according to changing impressions and moods. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/now-this-was-possible-only-by-a-man-determining-himself-entirely/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“It will generally be found that, as soon as the terrors of life reach the point at which they outweigh the terrors of death,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/it-will-generally-be-found-that-as-soon-as-the-terrors-of-life-reach/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Let us see rather that like Janus—or better, like Yama, the Brahmin god of death—religion has two faces, one very friendly, one very gloomy...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/let-us-see-rather-that-like-janus-or-better-like-yama-the-brahmin-god/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“A book can never be anything more than the impress of its author's thoughts; and the value of these will lie either in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/a-book-can-never-be-anything-more-than-the-impress-of-its-author-s/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## More by Arthur Schopenhauer > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“In accordance with such zeal, by reducing the external world to a matter of faith, he wanted merely to open a little door for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/in-accordance-with-such-zeal-by-reducing-the-external-world-to-a/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [That human life must be some kind of mistake is sufficiently proved by the simple observation that man is a compound of needs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/that-human-life-must-be-some-kind-of-mistake-is-sufficiently-proved/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Imitation and custom are the spring of almost all human action. The cause of it is that men fight shy of all and any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/imitation-and-custom-are-the-spring-of-almost-all-human-action-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [ \[T\]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between-man-and-man-ought-to-be-not/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [The eternal being..., as it lives in us, also lives in every animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-eternal-being-as-it-lives-in-us-also-lives-in-every-animal/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [there are very few who can think, but every man wants to have an opinion; and what remains but to take it ready-made from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/there-are-very-few-who-can-think-but-every-man-wants-to-have-an/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [It is not what things are objectively and in themselves, but what they are for us, in our way of looking at them, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/it-is-not-what-things-are-objectively-and-in-themselves-but-what-they/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [ “\[Materialism\] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-simple-state-of-matter-and/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [In order to increase his pleasures, man has intentionally added to the number and pressure of his needs, which in their original state were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/in-order-to-increase-his-pleasures-man-has-intentionally-added-to-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“For the will, as that which is common to all, is for that reason also common: consequently, every vehement emergence of will is common,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/for-the-will-as-that-which-is-common-to-all-is-for-that-reason-also/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Alles Urdenken geschieht in Bildern: darum ist die Phantasie ein so nothwendiges Werkzeug desselben, und werden phantasielose Köpfe nie etwas Großes leisten, - es…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/alles-urdenken-geschieht-in-bildern-darum-ist-die-phantasie-ein-so/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Intellect is invisible to the man who has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/intellect-is-invisible-to-the-man-who-has-none/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Newspapers are the second hand of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/newspapers-are-the-second-hand-of-history/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“In travelling where novelties of all kinds press in upon us, mental food is often supplied so rapidly from without that there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/in-travelling-where-novelties-of-all-kinds-press-in-upon-us-mental/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) [Explore all 791 Arthur Schopenhauer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## More Existence quotes > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn't have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lodge/universities-are-the-cathedrals-of-the-modern-age-they-shouldn-t-have/) [David Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lodge/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 7,646 Existence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What is more, in fact, we very soon look upon the world as something whose non-existence is not only conceivable, but even preferable to its existence. Therefore our astonishment at it easily passes into a brooding over that *fatality* which could nevertheless bring about its existence, and by virtue of which such an immense force as is demanded for the production and maintenance of such a world could be directed so much against its own interest and advantage.\" ―from_The World as Will and Representation_. Translated from the German by E. F. J. Payne. In Two Volumes, Volume II, p. 171”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Schopenhauer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-upon-the-world-as-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Existence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-upon-the-world-as-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/arthur-schopenhauer-226_existence_what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-u_3014079.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/arthur-schopenhauer-226_existence_what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-u_3014079.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/arthur-schopenhauer-226_existence_what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-u_3014079.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is more, in fact, we very soon look upon the world as something whose non-existence is not only…” — Arthur Schopenhauer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur Schopenhauer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What is more, in fact, we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-upon-the-world-as-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/what-is-more-in-fact-we-very-soon-look-upon-the-world-as-something/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```