Happy birthday, Arthur Schopenhauer

Arthur Schopenhauer, author of The World as Will and Representation, was born today in Danzig in 1788.

Here are a few remarks the philosopher made in his illustrious career:

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."

"A man can do what he wants, but not want what he wants."

"Will power is to the mind like a strong blind man who carries on his shoulders a lame man who can see."

"Newspapers are the second hand of history. This hand, however, is usually not only of inferior metal to the other hands, it also seldom works properly."

"You can't win honor. You can only lose it."

Thomas Mann explained Artie's conception of death: "You believe that when you die the rest of the world will go on existing, while you, sad to say, will be no more. But I say to you, this world, which is your idea, will no longer be; whereas you, precisely that in you which, because it is the will to live, fears death and rejects it, you will remain, you will continue to live."

Ah, idealism! Ah, Germany!