Pessimism Quote by Mikhail Bakunin
““All our philosophy starts from a false base; it begins always by considering man as an individual, and not as he should be considered—that is, as a being belonging to a collectivity; most of the philosophical (and mistaken) views stemming from this false premise either are led to the conception of a happiness m the clouds, or to a pessimism like that of Schopenhauer and Hartmann.””
About This Quote
Source Book: God of the Future, Mikhail Bakunin, 1882
Philosophy often wrongly treats people as isolated individuals, ignoring their social nature, leading to unrealistic happiness or deep pessimism.
In simple terms: Viewing humans as isolated is a mistake.
Key Takeaway
Recognize collective identity in thinking.
Themes
individualism
collectivity
philosophy
human nature
optimism
pessimism
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political theory
- social movements
- ethical debates
- personal development
Key Concepts
social ontology
existentialism
collective identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing yourself as part of a collective change your goals?
- What risks arise from ignoring individual differences?
A Different Perspective
May overlook personal agency and diversity within groups.
![“[…] we humans, as long as we live, are generally incapable of freeing ourselves from a certain ardent searching and longing, and should not even strive to; that our longing for happiness seems far more beautiful, always far more sensitive, more significant and all in all probably far more…” quote by Robert Walser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4b2/robert-walser-6307_desire_we-humans-as-long-as-we-live-are-general_2327023.jpg)
