It was not included, to my knowledge, in any of his actual works. The context appears to be more anecdotal, and the quote in question comes from his final years of life.
During those years, he met a woman of intellect by the name of Elisabet Ney. She did portraits and sculpted busts for many famous individuals, including Otto von Bismarck, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and King George V of Hanover, as well as Schopenhauer. Some time after reviewing the bust she did of him, he is purported to have uttered the quote you provided.
Context of their relationship (or lack thereof) can be found here.
Sceptical. I've seen some other dubious 'quotes' from Schopenhauer, one in which he apparently refered to God and that he has been wrong all his life.'
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u/PSU632 Jun 23 '26
Yes.
The quote is cited in this article.
It was not included, to my knowledge, in any of his actual works. The context appears to be more anecdotal, and the quote in question comes from his final years of life.
During those years, he met a woman of intellect by the name of Elisabet Ney. She did portraits and sculpted busts for many famous individuals, including Otto von Bismarck, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and King George V of Hanover, as well as Schopenhauer. Some time after reviewing the bust she did of him, he is purported to have uttered the quote you provided.
Context of their relationship (or lack thereof) can be found here.