[One Thousand Characters a Day] Reading Schopenhauer at Forty <5>

Editor's NoteSchopenhauer said, "Happiness is often a 'brief moment' transitioning from lack to fulfillment." Lack always causes pain to humans, but when fulfillment turns into excess, one is seized by feelings of boredom and tedium. The moments we enjoy happiness pass quickly like a flash. Since eternal and lasting happiness does not exist, we must be content with such small moments of happiness. Time and happiness flow without delay. Word count: 929 characters.

Animals with dull senses are happy because they immerse themselves only in the present, whereas humans trapped in illusions created by imagination about the future are unhappy. Excessive expectations or hopes for the future can undermine the mental stability that forms the foundation of happiness. The past and future do not actually exist. Therefore, we must be faithful only to the present in which we live. Schopenhauer said:

"There are people who hastily chase after the idea that the future will bring happiness, while ignoring and not enjoying the present. One must never forget that only the present is true, real, and certain."

We need to remind ourselves that "today happens only once" and fill the present with meaning. We must pleasantly accept and enjoy the present itself, which will never come again. We are confident that today will come again tomorrow, but that is an illusion. Each day that makes up a whole life is not the same; it is always new and different from yesterday. We must always positively evaluate the value of the present. People who are caught up in the past and future often fail to appreciate the value of every moment lived without worry.

The reason animals are happy is that they feel less pain and less pleasure than humans. Because they do not reflect, they neither store past pain nor get trapped in future illusions. Animals feel only the real pain of the present. The future and past exist only in our thoughts, and only the moment is real.

Schopenhauer emphasized the value of the present. However, he considered those who live excessively in the present to be reckless. What is important in life is to balance our attention between the present and the future without leaning too much to one side. It is foolish not to properly enjoy the present moment due to dissatisfaction with the past or worries about the future. The only time we can enjoy life meaningfully is today, and the idea that tomorrow is a repetition of today is an illusion.

- Kang Yong-su, Schopenhauer Read at Forty, Yuno Books, 17,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.