Karl Jaspers Quotes

A philosophy of freedom must set out from the experience of thinking, for it is through this experience of thinking that a human being discovers his own self, finds his bearings as an independent personality.

I have never regarded myself as this or that. I have been too busy being myself to bother about regarding myself.

When we're growing up there are all sorts of people telling us what to do when really what we need is space to work out who to be.

I think and that is all that I am.

To know oneself, one should assert oneself.

The object of studying philosophy is to know one's own mind, not other people's.

I'm not really on a mission to tell anybody anything. I'd rather be figured out.

The philosophy of the wisest man that ever existed, is mainly derived from the act of introspection.

He who integrates is lost.

You come to realize that only one person can tell you what's expected of you, and that's you.

The best thing we can do is develop our own.

One creates oneself.

I don't like work... but I like what is in work - the chance to find yourself. Your own reality - for yourself, not for others - which no other man can ever know.

I can't tell you what your purpose is, that's got to come from you.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.

I have a personal philosophy in life: If somebody else can do something that I'm doing, they should do it. And what I want to do is find things that would represent a unique contribution to the world - the contribution that only I, and my portfolio of talents, can make happen. Those are my priorities in life.

I think what my 42 years of life has given me is just how important it is to live your own life.

In school, no one teaches you to look for things that are right for you.

To transcend and be yourself... I have no reason to tell you, and others, something that is not of interest to you.

I have lived life enough to know that I define myself.

The function of education is to help you from childhood not to imitate anybody, but be yourself all the time.

It's entirely possible to function as a free-thinking individual without succumbing to narcissism. This can be tricky at times, I suppose, but then so can the tango - particularly if you're dancing alone.

What you are is a question only you can answer.

People have to learn who they are - you can't have somebody else telling you who you are.

Everybody eventually discovers that they are an individual with the power to affect their own lives and make it better or not.