1001Philosophers

Karl Jaspers Quotes

Karl Jaspers was a 20th-century German philosopher and psychiatrist, one of the founders of existentialism and a major figure of mid-20th century European thought. His early work General Psychopathology established his reputation in psychiatry and developed a phenomenological method for understanding subjective experience that he later extended into philosophy. The quotes below are attributed to Karl Jaspers, organized by topic.

Karl Jaspers on Knowledge

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Philosophy is a way of life, not a set of doctrines to be memorised.”

Karl Jaspers on Life

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Existence is not yet existence as it ought to be.”

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Limit-situations are situations of extreme experience: death, suffering, struggle, guilt.”

Karl Jaspers on Truth

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Truth begins with two.”

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Communication is the unique value of philosophical life.”

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Whoever offers himself as an arbiter of aesthetic matters takes a great risk.”