
Saint Valentine’s Day, rooted in Roman and Christian traditions, has shaped English with romantic words and phrases. From “lovebirds” to “Cupid’s arrow,” it enriches how love is expressed. Across cultures, its traditions endure, blending history, language, and commerce into one of the most celebrated occasions of the year.
























Origin:
From Greek askēsis (“discipline, training”), entering English religious and philosophical language in the 17th century.
Definition:
The practice of renouncing worldly pleasures to transcend desire.
Example:
“Asceticism weakens the grip of craving.”
Birth of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860)
The Thinker Who Darkened and Deepened Literary English
On this day — February 22, 1788 — Arthur Schopenhauer was born, a philosopher whose works, though written in German, profoundly shaped English philosophical vocabulary and literary tone through translation and reception. His major work, The World as Will and Representation, introduced Anglophone readers to a stark metaphysical pessimism expressed in lucid, forceful prose.
Through nineteenth-century translations and later essays such as Parerga and Paralipomena, Schopenhauer’s style entered English intellectual discourse. His vocabulary of will, representation, desire, and suffering became embedded in philosophical and literary analysis. Writers ranging from Victorian essayists to modernist novelists absorbed his tonal austerity and psychological depth.
Beyond philosophy proper, Schopenhauer influenced literary atmosphere: a restrained, analytic voice paired with existential gravity. On this day, his birth marks not only a moment in German intellectual history, but a turning point in the development of modern philosophical English and the reflective, interior tone that would shape later literature.

Your Language Learning Recap
Catch up on the last three monthly reviews, where English and Spanish learners alike can find everything they need to stay on track.
From grammar tips to captivating stories, vocabulary builders, and engaging readings, these wrap-ups have it all.
Plus, if you want to explore even more, you can click here to check out reviews from previous months!
