A man can do as he wills, but not will as he wills

= A man can do as he wills, but cannot will as he wills.

=> will is used as a verb here.

 

See interpretation of the word “will” under

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_as_Will_and_Representation

 

Schopenhauer used the word "will" as a human's most familiar designation for the concept that can also be signified by other words such as "desire," "striving," "wanting," "effort," and "urging." 

 

 

Der Mensch kann tun was er will; er kann aber nicht wollen was er will.  (德語原文)
A man can do as he wills, but not will as he wills.

= A man can do as he wills, but cannot will as he wills.

= A man can do what he desires to do, but cannot demand what he wants

人能做他想做的,但不能要他想要的

 

 

Albert Einstein once stated that:   

Ich glaube nicht an die Freiheit des Willens.  Schopenhauers Wort: »Der Mensch kann wohl tun was er will, aber er kann nicht wollen, was er will.« begleitet mich in allen Lebenslagen und versöhnt mich mit den Handlungen der Menschen, auch wenn sie mir recht schmerzlich sind. Diese Erkenntnis von der Unfreiheit des Willens schützt mich davor, mich selbst und die Mitmenschen als handelnde und urteilende Individuen allzu ernst zu nehmen und den guten Humor zu verlieren.

 

I do not believe in freedom of will. Schopenhauer's words, "Man can indeed do what he wants, but he cannot want what he wants", accompany me in all life situations and console me in my dealings with people, even those that are really painful to me. This recognition of the unfreedom of the will protects me from taking myself and my fellow men too seriously as acting and judging individuals and losing good humour.

 

See http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Schopenhauer

 

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