Essays and Aphorisms (Schopenhauer): How to Read and Best Selections

Outline

TL;DR
What “Essays and Aphorisms” usually means
How to read (short → deep)
Best selections (what to look for in any edition)
A simple reading order you can follow
Modern example: reading Schopenhauer like a feed
If you liked this, graduate to the main work
Common confusion
FAQ
Read next
Recommended Reading

TL;DR

Schopenhauer’s short writings are a clean entry point: you get the core diagnosis and the voice without carrying the full system immediately.
Read in layers: worldview first, then social psychology, then the more philosophical foundations.
Because editions vary, choose by topic. This page lists 12 “anchor pieces” that show up in many collections.
When you want the full argument, move to The World as Will and Representation (overview + how to approach it), supported by Will (plain English) and Representation.

What “Essays and Aphorisms” usually means

Publishers use “Essays and Aphorisms” as a catch-all label for selections from Schopenhauer’s shorter writings, often drawn from Parerga and Paralipomena and related pieces. The table of contents varies by edition, but the reading experience is stable.

short arguments and compressed claims
observational psychology about vanity, status, and self-deception
a moral seriousness that does not depend on religion

If you want help choosing a collection, see Best Schopenhauer Books (Best Editions + who they’re for).

How to read (short → deep)

The fastest way to waste these books is to treat them as a quote mine. A better method is to read in layers and force yourself to paraphrase.

Stage 1: Worldview pieces (quick orientation)

Start with the short pieces that state his basic diagnosis. This is where you get the pattern that drives much of the rest: wanting, strain, fading satisfaction.

Read one essay per sitting.
Afterward, write a one-sentence paraphrase. If you can’t, reread fewer pages.
Keep a concept anchor nearby: Pessimism (what it is / isn’t) and Desire → suffering → boredom.

Stage 2: Social psychology (where it gets practical)

Next, read the pieces about reputation, rank, noise, and the ways people misread each other. These essays are often sharp because they describe ordinary motives without flattery.

Underline sparingly, once per page max.
When you disagree, state the strongest version of his point before dismissing it.
Look for repeated mechanisms, not “hot takes.”

Stage 3: Foundations (only when you want the framework)

Then move to the more philosophical essays that connect to his bigger structure: the Will, representation, and the conditions of explanation.

Pair one “foundation” essay with one practical essay so you do not stall.
Use Will (plain English) and Representation as scaffolding.
If ethics is your interest, add Compassion & Ethics.

Best selections (what to look for in any edition)

Because collections differ, this list uses common English titles and the topic each piece covers. If your edition uses different names, match by theme.

Selection (typical title)	What it gives you	Best paired with
On the Suffering of the World	The core diagnosis: suffering as tied to wanting and loss	Desire → suffering → boredom
On the Vanity of Existence	Why satisfaction fades and why “having” rarely settles the mind	Pessimism (what it is / isn’t)
On the Freedom of the Will (or excerpts)	Why deliberation can feel free while motives and character still rule	Free Will (his view)
On the Basis of Morality (often excerpted)	Why compassion, not rules, is the moral motive in his view	Compassion & Ethics
On Reputation, Rank, and Honor	How social approval drives behavior and anxiety	Representation
On Books and Reading	How to read without substituting consumption for thinking	This page, plus Reading Order (Beginner → Advanced)
On Thinking for Oneself	Independent judgment versus borrowed certainty	Representation
On Noise	Attention, irritation, and why constant stimulation is costly	Aesthetics (art/music as relief)
Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life (selected)	“Practical philosophy” on temperament, expectations, and limits	Start Here: Schopenhauer in 7 Days
On Genius	Attention as a rare capacity, linking to aesthetic relief	Aesthetics (art/music as relief)
On Women (where included)	A reminder that insight and prejudice can coexist in one author	Read critically; do not treat as a guide to human nature
Appearance vs reality (titles vary)	The split between the world as experienced and its deeper nature	Will (plain English) and Representation

If you want a dedicated entry for one key piece, see On the Suffering of the World (overview + best edition).

A simple reading order you can follow

This order works with most collections because it is based on topic, not a fixed table of contents.

Worldview first. “On the Suffering of the World,” “On the Vanity of Existence,” then a small set of aphorisms.
Social psychology next. “On Reputation, Rank, and Honor,” “On Noise,” “On Books and Reading,” “On Thinking for Oneself.”
Agency and character. “On the Freedom of the Will” (or excerpts) and selected “Wisdom of Life” chapters.
Foundations last. Any essay on appearance vs reality, plus an excerpted ethics foundation piece.

Keep one organizing thread in mind: Schopenhauer is explaining why desire produces tension, why satisfaction fails to settle the mind, and what forms of relief remain plausible.

Modern example: reading Schopenhauer like a feed

Scenario. You open an “aphorisms” collection at lunch. You read six pages, underline ten lines, screenshot two quotes, and close the book. You feel informed. You retain almost nothing.

That style of reading treats Schopenhauer like social media. Short hits, fast reward, no integration. It produces the illusion of understanding because the sentences are sharp.

A better approach is slower and narrower.

Read one short piece.
Write a two-sentence paraphrase.
Link it to one concept page: Desire → suffering → boredom, Pessimism (what it is / isn’t), or Compassion & Ethics.

Now the point is no longer “that line was good.” The point is “I can explain the claim and its consequence.”

If you liked this, graduate to the main work

Schopenhauer’s essays are the front door. If you keep thinking, “I want the full argument,” the next step is his main work: The World as Will and Representation (overview + how to approach it).

Make the jump in this order.

Read Will (plain English) and Representation.
Read the overview above and follow its approach.
Return to the essays afterward. Many lines that felt like attitudes will read as conclusions of a system.

If you want the site’s staged path, use Reading Order (Beginner → Advanced).

Common confusion

“Do I need to read every essay in order?” No. Editions vary, and these pieces reward topic-based reading. Use the short-to-deep layers.
“Is this just self-help?” No. Schopenhauer is offering diagnosis and argument. Some pieces have practical implications, but the aim is clarity about motives and desire.
“Should I collect quotes?” Not as a method. Quotes are not understanding. Paraphrase first, then keep one or two lines if they genuinely summarize the claim.
“What about the offensive essays?” Some selections show prejudice. Read critically, treat them as historically situated, and do not generalize from them to his best arguments.

FAQ

1) Where should I start with Schopenhauer’s essays and aphorisms?

Start with the worldview pieces, especially “On the Suffering of the World” and “On the Vanity of Existence.” Then move to reputation, reading, and everyday life essays. After that, read selected “Wisdom of Life” chapters, and only then move into the more technical pieces.

2) Do I need to read every essay in order?

No. Read in layers. You will retain more if you choose by topic and write short paraphrases.

3) What is the best edition or collection to buy?

It depends on what you want: a portable selection, a theme-focused set, or a larger scholarly collection. Use Best Schopenhauer Books (Best Editions + who they’re for) to choose based on your reading style and tolerance for notes.

4) When should I move on to The World as Will and Representation?

When you can explain, in your own words, what Schopenhauer means by Will (plain English) and Representation, and you want the full structure behind the shorter pieces.