Arthur Schopenhauer: Win Money

Meaning of Arthur Schopenhauer Money Quote: saying when people don’t have valuable thoughts to deal, they deal cards to win money. Arthur Schopenhauer said:
 

 

“Because people have no thoughts to deal in, they deal cards, and try and win one another’s money. Idiots!” — Arthur Schopenhauer

In this quote, Arthur Schopenhauer seems to be criticizing how some people waste their time and energy on gambling or games of chance instead of more intellectually stimulating pursuits. Some key points:

• He notes that when people “have no thoughts to deal in” – meaning no interesting ideas or concepts to contemplate and discuss.
• They instead “deal cards” and engage in activities like gambling solely aimed at trying to acquire “one another’s money.”
• Schopenhauer scathingly calls these people “Idiots!” for preferring to gamble and chase profits rather than using their minds in a more enriching manner.
• The quote conveys Schopenhauer’s perspective that focusing excessively on monetary competitions or games of luck is foolish and a sign of lack of deeper interests or ambitions, in his elitist view.

Overall, Schopenhauer appears to be expressing disdain for those he sees as wasting their intellectual potential on pursuits like gambling that provide only fleeting financial thrills but no lasting personal growth, knowledge or contributions according to his philosophical perspective that places higher value on intellectualism and cultural refinement over crass monetary pursuits alone.

Birthday: February 22, 1788 – Death: September 21, 1860

Arthur Schopenhauer: Buying Books

Arthur Schopenhauer Money Quote saying that books don’t come with the time it takes to read them but it isn’t likely so we pretend. Arthur Schopenhauer said:
 

 

“Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them; but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents” — Arthur Schopenhauer

In this quote, Arthur Schopenhauer seems to be commenting on the tendency to accumulate books as a sign of intellect or learning, without actually taking the time to read and absorb their contents.

By stating that buying books would be good “if one could also buy the time to read them”, but that typically “the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents”, Schopenhauer implies that amassing a large library does not equate to true knowledge if one does not dedicate the hours required to meaningfully engage with each text.

The quote conveys Schopenhauer’s perspective that collecting books superficially through purchase is not equivalent to gaining their insights, as reading takes significant investment of one’s time and focus to gain full understanding and edification from written works.

Overall, Schopenhauer appears to be arguing that possession of written materials does not necessarily correlate to erudition, which only deep reading of texts can provide.

Birthday: February 22, 1788 – Death: September 21, 1860

Arthur Schopenhauer: Wealth Thirst

Arthur Schopenhauer Money Quote saying that gaining more wealth is counter-intuitive in that we think our thirst for it will be satisfied, but it is increased. Arthur Schopenhauer said:
 

 

“Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame” — Arthur Schopenhauer

In this quote, Arthur Schopenhauer seems to be conveying that pursuing wealth and fame can be an endless, unsatisfying pursuit similar to quenching thirst with seawater.

By comparing wealth and fame to drinking seawater, which only intensifies thirst instead of satisfying it, Schopenhauer implies that amassing riches or renown does little to fulfill deeper human needs and may actually increase desires rather than diminishing them.

The quote conveys Schopenhauer’s perspective that wealth and acclaim are not truly satisfying on their own, as gaining more only breeds further craving rather than sating the soul, in a manner akin to drinking salt water which dehydrates instead of hydrating.

Overall, Schopenhauer appears to be arguing that wealth and fame provide fleeting satisfaction at best, and at worst intensify longing for more of the same as they fail to quench existential longing in a lasting way due to their inability to directly address humanity’s profound psychological and spiritual needs beyond superficial wants.

Birthday: February 22, 1788 – Death: September 21, 1860

Arthur Schopenhauer: Concrete Abstractions

Arthur Schopenhauer Money Quote saying some devote themselves to abstractions for happiness and others to utter reality when a balance is necessary. Arthur Schopenhauer said:
 

 

“Money is human happiness in the abstract: he, then, who is no longer capable of enjoying human happiness in the concrete devotes himself utterly to money” — Arthur Schopenhauer

In this quote, Arthur Schopenhauer is making a philosophical point about how some people relate to money. He argues that money represents happiness and life’s pleasures in an abstract, conceptual way.

But for those who can no longer experience real human happiness through relationships and experiences, they devote themselves entirely to the pursuit of wealth and money instead.

Schopenhauer seems to be saying that for those who have become detached from genuine emotional fulfillment, amassing money acts as a substitute for the happiness they can no longer feel in intimate, real world interactions with others.

Birthday: February 22, 1788 – Death: September 21, 1860

Arthur Schopenhauer: Being Sated on Cash

Arthur Schopenhauer Money Quote saying everyone believes that if they could just earn a little bit more money, they’d have enough or be happy or satisfied with … more. Arthur Schopenhauer said:
 

 

“Money is like sea-water: The more we drink the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame” — Arthur Schopenhauer

In this quote, Arthur Schopenhauer is drawing a comparison between money and fame, saying they are both like drinking sea water in that the more one acquires of either, the more one desires. His point is that wealth and notoriety do not truly satisfy or fulfill in a lasting way, but rather tend to inflame further craving and want.

Just as drinking sea water does not quench thirst but intensifies it due to its saline properties, Schopenhauer views money and fame as incapable of satiating deeper human needs and psychological drives, but rather stoking ever greater ambition and hunger for more of the same.

The quote suggests that true contentment does not come from amassing riches or acclaim, as these leave inner emptiness that spurs constant pursuit of increasing amounts, similar to how sea water consumption worsens rather than remedies dehydration.

Birthday: February 22, 1788 – Death: September 21, 1860

Arthur Schopenhauer: Greater Value than Gold

Arthur Schopenhauer Money Quotation points to the unexpected discoveries of the alchemists while they searched for gold, they found many things that mattered more than gold.
 

 

“The alchemists in their search for gold discovered many other things of greater value” — Arthur Schopenhauer

In this quote, Arthur Schopenhauer is making the point that discoveries can sometimes occur unexpectedly as a result of pursuing one goal but finding something else of greater worth.

While the alchemists were focused on trying to turn base metals like lead into gold through chemistry, in the process they ended up discovering many other scientific principles and compounds that were more valuable.

Schopenhauer’s quote suggests that by seeking one objective, like the alchemists did with gold, unintended but important findings may arise. It emphasizes that what is discovered does not always match the initial intention, but can surpass it in significance.

Birthday: February 22, 1788 – Death: September 21, 1860