Quotes About Existence

Man is not born to solve the problem of the universe, but to find out what he has to do; and to restrain himself within the limits of his comprehension.

We usually lost today because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.

In the colorful reflection we have what is life.

When I consider the narrow limits within which our active and inquiring faculties are confined; when I see how all our energies are wasted in providing for mere necessities, which again have no further end than to prolong a wretched existence; and then that all our satisfaction concerning certain subjects of investigation ends in nothing better than a passive resignation... when I consider all this... I am silent.

Ich bin der Geist der stets verneint! Und das mit Recht; denn alles, was entsteht, ist wert, dass es zugrunde geht.

If you inquire what the people are like here, I must answer, "The same as everywhere." The human race is but a monotonous affair. Most of them labour the greater part of their time for mere subsistence; and the scanty portion of freedom which remains to them so troubles them that they use every exertion to get rid of it. Oh, the destiny of man!

Ich bin der Geist der stets verneint! Unde das mit Recht; denn alles was entsteht ist werth daß es zu Grunde geht; Drum besser wär's daß nichts entstünde. So ist denn alles was ihr Sünde, Zerstörung, kurz das Böse nennt, Mein eigentliches Element.

What is important in life is life, and not the result of life.

I am part of the part that once was everything, Part of the darkness which gave birth to light… Mephistopheles, from Faust.

And I like those authors best whose scenes describe my own situation in life-- and the friends who are about me whose stories touch me with interest, from resembling my own homely existence.

I am fully convinced that the soul is indestructible, and its activity will continue through eternity.

Yes - this I hold to with devout insistence, Wisdom's last verdict goes to say: He only earns both freedom and existence Who must reconquer them each day.

Aber ich habe sie gehabt, ich habe das Herz gefühlt, die große Seele, in deren Gegenwart ich mir schien mehr zu sein, als ich war, weil ich alles war, was ich sein konnte.

Was ich besitze, seh ich wie im Weiten, Und was verschwand, wird mir zu Wirklichkeiten.

What matters our creative endless toil, When at a snatch, oblivion ends the coil? 'It is by-gone' - How shall the riddle run? As good as if things never had begun, Yet circle back, existence to possess: I'd rather have eternal Emptiness.

Nothing is more highly to be prized than the value of each day

Es ist ein einförmig Ding um das Menschengeschlecht. Die meisten verarbeiten ihre Zeit, um zu leben, und das bißchen, das ihnen von Freiheit übrig bleibt, ängstigt sie so, dass sie alle Mittel aufsuchen, um es los zu sein

I am fully convinced that the soul is indestructible, and that its activity will continue through eternity. It is like the sun, which, to our eyes, seems to set in night; but it has in reality only gone to diffuse its light elsewhere.

He only earns his freedom and existence who daily conquers them anew.

God of heaven! and is this the destiny of man? Is he only happy before he has acquired his reason, or after he has lost it?

God knows, I often lie down to sleep with the desire, even sometimes the hope, not to wake up again.

Die meisten verarbeiten den größten Teil der Zeit, um zu leben, und das bißchen, das ihnen von Freiheit übrig bleibt, ängstigt sie so, daß sie alle Mittel aufsuchen, um es loszuwerden...

Life is not light, but refracted colour.

Ah, when, within our narrow chamber The lamp with friendly lustre glows, Flames in the breast each faded ember, And in the heart, itself that knows. Then Hope again lends sweet assistance, And Reason then resumes her speech: One yearns, the rivers of existence, The very founts of Life, to reach.