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About this quote

What does it mean?
Every human ideal is linked to a mistake that it risks turning into.
In plain terms
Ideal goals can become the very mistakes they aim to avoid.
What can you take from it?
Monitor how ideals shape behavior to "t": ["ideal", "mistake", "human ambition", "philosophy"]

Where it applies

  • political reform
  • personal development

Putting it to work

  • regularly reassess goals
  • seek feedback

Questions to consider

  • What safeguards prevent ideals from becoming harmful?
  • Can an ideal be both a guide and a trap?

Another view

Not all ideals inevitably lead to mistakes; some guide positive change.

More from Arthur Schopenhauer

  1. Jede menschliche Vollkommenheit ist einem Fehler verwandt, in welchen uberzugehn sie droht.

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  2. Alles Wollen entspringt aus Bedurfnis, also aus Mangel, also aus Leiden.

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  3. The chief objection that I have to Pantheism is that it says nothing. To call the world 'God' is not to explain it; it is only to enrich our language with a su…

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