Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a German philosopher who challenged the foundations of traditional morality. He taught people to focus on the realities of the world we live in, rather than those situated in a world beyond. As such, he was a critic of religion and Christianity in particular. Often referred to as one of the first existentialist philosophers along with Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855), Nietzsche’s revitalizing philosophy has inspired leading figures in all walks of cultural life, including dancers, poets, novelists, painters, psychologists, philosophers, sociologists and social revolutionaries. Here are some of the greatest quotes by Nietzsche.– That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
– The higher we soar the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.
– It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.
– Be careful, lest in casting out your demon you exorcise the best thing in you.
– And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.
– You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.
– Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.
There are no facts, only interpretations.
– There are two different types of people in the world, those who want to know, and those who want to believe.
– The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
– He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.
– In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.
– The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.
– Faith: not wanting to know what the truth is.
– A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.
– Thoughts are the shadows of our feelings — always darker, emptier and simpler.
– What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: ‘This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more’ … Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: ‘You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine.
– All things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.
– All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.
– Perhaps I know best why it is man alone who laughs; he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter.