more from Arthur Schopenhauer

Single Idea 21471

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 4. Suicide]

Full Idea

Perhaps there is no one alive who would not already have put an end to his life if this end were something purely negative, a sudden cessation of existence.

Gist of Idea

If suicide was quick and easy, most people would have done it by now

Source

Arthur Schopenhauer (Parerga and Paralipomena [1851], XIII:158)

Book Reference

Schopenhauer,Arthur: 'Essays and Aphorisms [from Pand P]', ed/tr. Hollingdale,R.J. [Penguin 1970], p.79


A Reaction

Nonsense, on the whole, but it is a nice question how many people would do it if it only took a painless instant.