Blogging: Friedrich Nietzsche

"How relieved the general feeling of life would be if, together with the belief in guilt, we could also get rid of the ancient instinct of revenge, and if we even considered it a fine cleverness in a happy person to pronounce a blessing over his enemies, with Christianity, and if we benefited those who had offended us. Let us remove the concept of sin from the world--and let us soon send the concept of punishment after it. May these banished monsters live somewhere else henceforth, not among men, if they insist on living at all and do not perish of their own disgust."

Guilt and revenge have plagued humankind for generations, resulting in untold deaths and misery. I, for one, wouldn't be sad to see them go.

 "But the worst enemy you can encounter will always be you, yourself; you lie in wait for yourself in caves and woods."

As a wise man once said, "We have seen the enemy, and he is us." Our most vicious battles are often fought with--ourselves. In such battles, who is the winner? Can there be a winner?

"Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself. And your way leads past yourself and your seven devils. You will be a heretic to yourself and a witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and a villain. You must wish to consume yourself in your own flame: how could you wish to become new unless you had first become ashes!"

Overcoming oneself is an arduous, and courageous, task. Do not spurn it. However difficult it may be, peer into your innermost depths, and overcome yourself.



"Physician, help yourself: thus you help your patient too. Let this be his best help that he may behold with his eyes the man who helps himself."

Do not wait for others to "fix" you. Work on yourself; you'd be surprised how many others will then lend their assistance. First you must show that you are serious about healing.

"There is much filth in the world; that much is true. But that does not make the world itself a filthy monster."

 

 

 

The world screams with anguish and suffering; yet that makes it no less beautiful. Gratitude for one's life, for one's world, is a very high, noble sentiment.

"Behold this man languishing here! He is but one span from his goal, but out of weariness he has defiantly lain down in the dust--this courageous man! Out of weariness he yawns at the way and the earth and the goal and himself: not one step farther will he go--this courageous man! Now the sun glows on him and the dogs lick his sweat; but he lies there in his defiance and would sooner die of thirst--die of thirst one span away from his goal!"

 

 

 

How many people have given up just short of their goal? How many ailing souls have quit mere seconds before insight and true healing? Learn from them--and keep going no matter what.

"The higher its type, the more rarely a thing succeeds. You higher men here, have you not all failed?

Be of good cheer, what does it matter? How much is still possible! Learn to laugh at yourselves as one must laugh!"

 You have failed; so what? Now you know what does not work. Cross it off the list, and plot your strategy anew.

"The most spiritual human beings, if we assume that they are the most courageous, also experience by far the most painful tragedies: but just for that reason they honor life because it pits its greatest opposition against them."

 

 

 

Life's difficulties are no argument against it; if anything, they are arguments for life. These same difficulties are a crucible in which your love and compassion are mercilessly forged.

"Strong hope is a far more powerful stimulant of life than any single realization of happiness could ever be."

Nurture your hope at all costs; it will never fail you.

 And, lastly...

"The 'kingdom of heaven' is a state of the heart...[T]he 'kingdom of God' is nothing that one expects; it has no yesterday and no day after tomorrow. It will not come in 'a thousand years'--it is an experience of the heart; it is everywhere, it is nowhere."