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About this quote

What does it mean?
A person with limited mental needs and a narrow intellect is a philistine.
In plain terms
Someone with a small mind and few intellectual desires is a philistine.
What can you take from it?
Broaden your mental needs to avoid being a philistine.

Where it applies

  • avoiding challenging books
  • sticking to simple entertainment

Putting it to work

  • read diverse literature
  • engage in deep conversations

Questions to consider

  • What does it mean to have 'mental needs'?
  • How can you expand your intellectual horizons?

Another view

What are not philistine; they may simply lack opportunity.

More from Arthur Schopenhauer

  1. The two foes of human happiness are pain and boredom.

    Permalink to quote #81
  2. Intellect is invisible to the man who has none.

    Permalink to quote #83
  3. Nature shows that with the growth of intelligence comes increased capacity for pain, and it is only with the highest degree of intelligence that suffering reac…

    Permalink to quote #80

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