1001Philosophers

Karl Jaspers Quotes on Love

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. This page collects quotes attributed to Karl Jaspers on the topic of love, drawn from across the philosopher's works.

Quotes

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Truth begins with two.”

  • Attributed to Karl Jaspers:

    “Communication is the unique value of philosophical life.”

  • “The Greek word for philosopher ( philosophos ) connotes a distinction from sophos . It signifies the lover of wisdom (knowledge) as distinguished from him who considers himself wise in the possession of knowledge . This meaning of the word still endures: the essence of philosophy is not the possession of the truth but the search for truth. … Philosophy means to be on the way. Its questions are more essential than its answers , and every answer becomes a new question.”

    Way to Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy (1951) as translated by Ralph Mannheim , Ch. 1, What is Philosophy?, p. 12 | Variant translation: It is the search for the truth , not possession of the truth which is the way of philosophy. Its questions are more relevant than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question.
  • “Even the most elevated psychological understanding is not a loving understanding.”

    Psychology of World Views(1919)
  • “The teacher of love teaches struggle. The teacher of lifeless isolation from the world teaches peace .”

    Psychology of World Views(1919)