Im allgemeinen freilich haben die Weisen aller Zeiten immer dasselbe gesagt, und die Toren, d.h. die unermessliche Majoritat aller Zeiten, haben immer dasselbe, namlich das Gegenteil getan; und so wird es denn auch ferner bleiben.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The wise have always said the same things, while the countless fools have always done the opposite, and this will continue.
- In plain terms
- Wise people repeat timeless truths; the majority repeatedly act contrary to them.
- What can you take from it?
- Listen to timeless wisdom rather than popular behavior.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do people repeat mistakes despite knowing better?
- How can societies break this pattern?
Another view
It generalizes all people as either wise or foolish, ignoring nuance.
More from Arthur Schopenhauer
Honor ... means that a man is not exceptional; fame, that he is. Fame is something which must be won; honor, only something which must not be lost.
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