If we were not all so interested in ourselves, life would be so uninteresting that none of us would be able to endure it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- If we were not self‑absorbed, life would be unbearably boring and unendurable.
- In plain terms
- Self‑interest makes life tolerable; without it, existence would be dull.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize that a degree of self‑focus adds meaning to life.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much self‑interest is healthy?
- What alternatives exist meaningful beyond self?
Another view
Excessive self‑absorption can harm relationships.
More from Arthur Schopenhauer
I was very fond of them, if only they would have had me.
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