In order to elucidate especially and most clearly the origination of this error {...} let us imagine a man who, while standing on the street, would say to himself: "It is six o'clock in the evening, the working day is over. Now I can go for a walk, or I can go to the club; I can also climb up the tower to see the sunset; I can go to the theater; I can visit this friend or that one; indeed, I also can run out of the gate, into the wide world, and never return. All of this is strictly up to me, in this I have complete freedom. But still I shall do none of these things now , but with just as free a will I shall go home to my wife". This is exactly as if water spoke to itself: "I can make high waves {yes! in the sea during a storm}, I can rush down hill {yes! in the river bed}, I can plunge down foaming and gushing {yes! in the waterfall}, I can rise freely as a stream of water into the air {yes! in the fountain}, I can, finally boil away and disappear {yes! at a certain temperature}; but I am doing none of these things now, and am voluntaringly remaining quiet and clear water in the reflecting pond.
( Arthur Schopenhauer )
[ Essay on the Freedom of the ]
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