--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A philosopher is a fool who torments…" description: "\"A philosopher is a fool who torments himself while he is alive, to be talked of after he is dead.\" — Jean le Rond d'Alembert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_alive_a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-him_1895394.jpg" --- # A philosopher is a fool who torments himself while he is… ![“A philosopher is a fool who torments himself while he is alive, to be talked of after he is dead.” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_alive_a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-him_1895394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_alive_a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-him_1895394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_alive_a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-him_1895394.jpg) > “A philosopher is a fool who torments himself while he is alive, to be talked of after he is dead.” [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophers suffer in life for ideas that may only be recognized after death. **In simple terms:** Philosophers endure for posthumous fame. Key Takeaway Accept that some work is only valued later. Themes philosophy legacy humility Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - academic research - creative writing - public discourse Key Concepts posthumous recognition intellectual sacrifice self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - Is your work driven by legacy or present impact? - How do you handle present criticism? A Different Perspective Not all suffering leads to lasting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) ## Related quotes > [The man who enters his wife's dressing room is either a philosopher or a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-man-who-enters-his-wife-s-dressing-room-is-either-a-philosopher/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The vague torment of ... ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-zola/the-vague-torment-of-ambition/) [Emile Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-zola/) > [Ardent desire for knowledge, in fact, is the one motive attracting and supporting investigators in their efforts; and just this knowledge, really grasped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/ardent-desire-for-knowledge-in-fact-is-the-one-motive-attracting-and/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Oftentimes, the funniest comedians are people who've gone through personal torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/oftentimes-the-funniest-comedians-are-people-who-ve-gone-through/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) > [If it is not strong upon your heart to practice what you read, to what end do you read? To increase your own condemnation?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-it-is-not-strong-upon-your-heart-to-practice-what-you-read-to-what/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/) Dave Stevens > [Surface cures are not going to get rid of the torment that's inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/surface-cures-are-not-going-to-get-rid-of-the-torment-that-s-inside/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [Time is the mercy of Eternity; without Time's swiftness Which is the swiftest of all things, all were eternal torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/time-is-the-mercy-of-eternity-without-time-s-swiftness-which-is-the/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“Being around her now was nine parts bliss and one part torment. And he wanted it to last as long as possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringle/being-around-her-now-was-nine-parts-bliss-and-one-part-torment-and-he/) [Molly Ringle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringle/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Teenage girls are extremists who see the world in black-and- white terms, missing shades of gray. Life is either marvelous or notworth living. School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/teenage-girls-are-extremists-who-see-the-world-in-black-and-white/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [When people are suicidal, their thinking is paralyzed, their options appear spare or nonexistent, their mood is despairing, and hopelessness permeates their entire mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/when-people-are-suicidal-their-thinking-is-paralyzed-their-options/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jean le Rond d'Alembert > [Push on and faith will catch up with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/push-on-and-faith-will-catch-up-with-you/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [One magnitude is said to be the limit of another magnitude when the second may approach the first within any given magnitude, however small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/one-magnitude-is-said-to-be-the-limit-of-another-magnitude-when-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Algebra is generous; she often gives more than is asked of her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/algebra-is-generous-she-often-gives-more-than-is-asked-of-her/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [The true system of the World has been recognized, developed and perfected...Everything has been discussed and analysed, or at least mentioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/the-true-system-of-the-world-has-been-recognized-developed-and/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [High office, is like a pyramid; only two kinds of animals reach the summit — reptiles and eagles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/high-office-is-like-a-pyramid-only-two-kinds-of-animals-reach-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [If one looks at all closely at the middle of our own century, the events that occupy us, our customs, our achievements and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/if-one-looks-at-all-closely-at-the-middle-of-our-own-century-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Music that paints nothing is only noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [In England it was enough that Newton was the greatest mathematican of his century; in France he would have been expected to be agreeable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/in-england-it-was-enough-that-newton-was-the-greatest-mathematican-of/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [“In effect, what is a courtier? He is a man whom the misfortune of kings and people has placed betwixt the sovereign and truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/in-effect-what-is-a-courtier-he-is-a-man-whom-the-misfortune-of-kings/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Just go on . . . and faith will soon return. To a friend hesitant with respect to infinitesimals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/just-go-on-and-faith-will-soon-return-to-a-friend-hesitant-with/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [The more wit we have, the less satisfied we are with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/the-more-wit-we-have-the-less-satisfied-we-are-with-it/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [There are only two kinds of certain knowledge: Awareness of our own existence and the truths of mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/there-are-only-two-kinds-of-certain-knowledge-awareness-of-our-own/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [“Every age, and especially our own, stands in need of a Diogenes ; but the difficulty is in finding men who have the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/every-age-and-especially-our-own-stands-in-need-of-a-diogenes-but-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [D'Alembert was always surrounded by controversy. ... he was the lightning rod which drew sparks from all the foes of the philosophes. ... Unfortunately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/d-alembert-was-always-surrounded-by-controversy-he-was-the-lightning/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) [Explore all 21 Jean le Rond d'Alembert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A philosopher is a fool who torments himself while he is alive, to be talked of after he is dead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean le Rond d'Alembert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-himself-while-he-is-alive-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-himself-while-he-is-alive-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_alive_a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-him_1895394.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_alive_a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-him_1895394.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_alive_a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-him_1895394.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A philosopher is a fool who torments himself while he is alive, to be talked of after he is dead.” — Jean le Rond d'Alembert", "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": "Jean le Rond d'Alembert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A philosopher is a fool who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-himself-while-he-is-alive-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-himself-while-he-is-alive-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```