# What is Life? (13 Thinkers)

> A one-line distillation of how thirteen prominent thinkers defined life.

This list condenses the core philosophies of thirteen writers, philosophers, and scientists into single-line definitions answering 'What is life?'. It offers a quick reference for juxtaposing different worldviews from figures like Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Einstein.

## The list

What is life?

- Dostoevsky: It's hell.
- Socrates: It's a test.
- Aristotle: It's the mind.
- Nietzsche: It's power.
- Freud: It's death.
- Marx: It's the idea.
- Picasso: It's art.
- Gandhi: It's love.
- Schopenhauer: It's suffering.
- Bertrand Russell: It's competition.
- Steve Jobs: It's faith.
- Einstein: It's knowledge.
- Stephen Hawking: It's hope.
- Kafka: It's just the beginning.

## What it is for

- Find concise quotes or thematic hooks for writing and essays
- Source short copy for social media posts on philosophy
- Compare fundamental worldviews across historical thinkers

## Key points

- Covers 13 prominent philosophers, writers, and scientists
- Ultra-condensed single-concept definitions for each thinker
- Contrasts opposing worldviews, such as suffering versus hope

## Pricing

Free

## Details

- Type: List
- Category: [Learning](https://xiry.app/topics/learning.md)
- Open source: no
- Platforms: other
- For: Writers, philosophy enthusiasts, and content creators
- Tags: philosophy, quotes, writing, thinkers, reference

## Why it was saved

- [@SchopenhauerNow, 23 October 2025](https://x.com/SchopenhauerNow/status/1981203645799518604): A quick, quotable distillation of each thinker's core worldview; useful as reference or copy for philosophy-themed posts.

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Updated 11 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/what-is-life-13-thinkers

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