Q0069
“Compassion is the basis of morality.” — Arthur Schopenhauer (Parerga und Paralipomena (on compassion))
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Parerga und Paralipomena (on compassion). Theme: love.
English
Compassion is the basis of morality.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Parerga und Paralipomena (on compassion) and files it under Voluntarism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) was a German philosopher of pessimism whose The World as Will and Representation fused Kantian phenomena with a blind metaphysical will. Largely ignored while Hegel dominated Berlin, he later won fame influencing artists and psychologists.
How to read this passage
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, morality, otherness.
Concepts in this quote
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
- Morality
- Morality in philosophy concerns right and wrong, obligation, and the standards by which we judge persons and acts.
- Otherness
- Otherness appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat otherness as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Arthur Schopenhauer. (n.d.). Compassion is the basis of morality. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0069
MLA: Arthur Schopenhauer. “Compassion is the basis of morality..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0069.
Chicago: Arthur Schopenhauer. “Compassion is the basis of morality..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0069.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Compassion is the basis of morality.”?
The passage is attributed to Arthur Schopenhauer, Parerga und Paralipomena (on compassion). The archive attributes this English wording to Parerga und Paralipomena (on compassion) and files it under Voluntarism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Arthur Schopenhauer mean by love?
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, morality, otherness.