---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts…"
description: "\"Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually set their mark on the face, especially the eyes.\" — Arthur Schopenhauer"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/arthur-schopenhauer-226_mark_wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gr_1147958.jpg"
---

#  Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually set their…

![“Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually set their mark on the face, especially the eyes.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/arthur-schopenhauer-226_mark_wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gr_1147958.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/arthur-schopenhauer-226_mark_wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gr_1147958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/arthur-schopenhauer-226_mark_wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gr_1147958.jpg)

> “Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually set their mark on the face, especially the eyes.”

[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.

Negative thoughts and futile actions leave lasting marks on one’s perception, especially evident in the eyes.

**In simple terms:** Bad thoughts and wasted effort scar your outlook.

Key Takeaway

Guard against harmful thoughts.

Themes

philosophy psychology human nature

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily reflection
- therapy sessions
- creative work

Key Concepts

cognitive bias existentialism mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- What thoughts do you notice lingering?
- How can you replace worthless effort with purpose?

A Different Perspective

Optimism can counteract the described pessimism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Efforts Gradually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efforts-gradually-3230873/) [Especially Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-eyes-2397789/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Face Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-especially-439761/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) [Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked/) [Wicked Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-thoughts-812155/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/)

## Related quotes

> [Destroy the man of wicked thoughts, Like a bamboo-tree with its fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/destroy-the-man-of-wicked-thoughts-like-a-bamboo-tree-with-its-fruit/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [“Anger made her prettier. Especially her eyes—it was a look that put men to shame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/anger-made-her-prettier-especially-her-eyes-it-was-a-look-that-put/)

[Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/)

> [I think the most beautiful people are the ones who went to the toughest situations in life but still manage to keep a smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-the-most-beautiful-people-are-the-ones-who-went-to-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think the most beautiful people are the ones who went through the toughest situations in life but still somehow manage to keep a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-the-most-beautiful-people-are-the-ones-who-went-through-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Obviously, many will feel that having a cleaner means I can't talk about being working class with a straight face. I would argue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-dent/obviously-many-will-feel-that-having-a-cleaner-means-i-can-t-talk/)

[Grace Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-dent/)

> [In the mornings, I try to wash my face - especially if I'm going to set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/in-the-mornings-i-try-to-wash-my-face-especially-if-i-m-going-to-set/)

[Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/)

> [“Her mouth was right on his ear, and she spoke her wicked thoughts aloud. "I want you inside me." That was it. With a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-mccarty/her-mouth-was-right-on-his-ear-and-she-spoke-her-wicked-thoughts/)

[Monica McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-mccarty/)

> [The reason that we have both good and wicked thoughts together is not, as some suppose, because the Holy Spirit and the devil dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diadochos-of-photiki/the-reason-that-we-have-both-good-and-wicked-thoughts-together-is-not/)

[Diadochos of Photiki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diadochos-of-photiki/)

> [“Whoever is wise, shall depart from evil of wicked thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-is-wise-shall-depart-from-evil-of-wicked-thoughts/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [ If god really wanted people to be free of \[wicked thoughts\], he should have taken more care to invent a different species. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-god-really-wanted-people-to-be-free-of-wicked-thoughts-he-should/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [It is wicked to withdraw from being useful to the needy, and cowardly to give way to the worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-is-wicked-to-withdraw-from-being-useful-to-the-needy-and-cowardly/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-man-is-immortal-simply-because-he-will/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [There's nothing valuable about being ripped off or sold on a worthless degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/there-s-nothing-valuable-about-being-ripped-off-or-sold-on-a/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [Grow up? Get herself straightened out? Her mind reeled from the verbal battering. No matter what she did, her father would tell her she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/grow-up-get-herself-straightened-out-her-mind-reeled-from-the-verbal/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/)

[Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/)

## 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 Eyes quotes

> [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/)

[Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/)

> [When I was a teen, I would draw a really, really long line around my eyes with eyeliner, like Lola Flores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-was-a-teen-i-would-draw-a-really-really-long-line-around-my/)

[Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [Human beings should stick together. Honestly, if I see a red-haired person with blue eyes now, I say, 'Is your granny black?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/human-beings-should-stick-together-honestly-if-i-see-a-red-haired/)

[Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/)

> [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/)

[Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/)

> [When I see things through my eyes, I don't want to ever just be really negative towards someone's performance. There are many ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-see-things-through-my-eyes-i-don-t-want-to-ever-just-be-really/)

[Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/)

> [My only trick to having wing liner sharp enough to cut is be careful and take your time! I have hooded eyes, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-charles/my-only-trick-to-having-wing-liner-sharp-enough-to-cut-is-be-careful/)

[James Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-charles/)

> [“I fell in love with your eyes first because I looked into their depths and saw the other half of my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/i-fell-in-love-with-your-eyes-first-because-i-looked-into-their/)

[R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/)

> [I think, reading about yourself through somebody else's eyes, you're always going to have your own story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/i-think-reading-about-yourself-through-somebody-else-s-eyes-you-re/)

[Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/)

> [For the Russian masses, the proletarians, knew for certain, and already saw during the war, and in part before their very eyes, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/for-the-russian-masses-the-proletarians-knew-for-certain-and-already/)

[Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [Evertime I close my eyes it doesnt matter where, I always see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/evertime-i-close-my-eyes-it-doesnt-matter-where-i-always-see-you/)

[Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/)

> [Look with all your eyes, look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/look-with-all-your-eyes-look/)

[Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/)

> [It's not your mistake if you cant read the eyes which cheats you. But it's really your mistake if you cant read the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/it-s-not-your-mistake-if-you-cant-read-the-eyes-which-cheats-you-but/)

[Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/)

> [Kiss me with your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/kiss-me-with-your-eyes/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

[Browse all 3,942 Eyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually set their mark on the face, especially the eyes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arthur Schopenhauer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gradually-set-their-mark-on-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Eyes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gradually-set-their-mark-on-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/arthur-schopenhauer-226_mark_wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gr_1147958.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/arthur-schopenhauer-226_mark_wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gr_1147958.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/arthur-schopenhauer-226_mark_wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gr_1147958.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually set their mark on the face, especially the eyes.” — 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": "Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gradually-set-their-mark-on-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/wicked-thoughts-and-worthless-efforts-gradually-set-their-mark-on-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
