Q0316
“All life is suffering.” — Arthur Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Representation…)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: The World as Will and Representation IV. Theme: life.
English
All life is suffering.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to The World as Will and Representation IV 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
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.
Concepts in this quote
- Life
- Philosophy quotes about life ask what makes a life good, meaningful, or worth examining—questions that drive ethics, religion, and everyday decision.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Arthur Schopenhauer. (n.d.). All life is suffering. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0316
MLA: Arthur Schopenhauer. “All life is suffering..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0316.
Chicago: Arthur Schopenhauer. “All life is suffering..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0316.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “All life is suffering.”?
The passage is attributed to Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation IV. The archive attributes this English wording to The World as Will and Representation IV 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 life?
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.