Discover an old but brilliant book today: Beyond Good And Evil (1886)
A recommendation from my favorite Twitter account: @0x49fa98
In this thread, find out:
- The problem with thinking in absolutes
- Nietzsche's writing tips
- Why we need enemies
And more👇👇👇
A recommendation from my favorite Twitter account: @0x49fa98
In this thread, find out:
- The problem with thinking in absolutes
- Nietzsche's writing tips
- Why we need enemies
And more👇👇👇
Nietzsche's central question:
What are the "ideas by which one could live better, that is to say more vigorously and joyfully, than by ‘modern ideas’?"
Let's look at 19 ideas from the book that fit the bill!
What are the "ideas by which one could live better, that is to say more vigorously and joyfully, than by ‘modern ideas’?"
Let's look at 19 ideas from the book that fit the bill!
#1: There is great danger in going your own way
He who truly walks on an unbeaten track is "cut off from others" physically *and* psychologically.
If he fails, he gets no sympathy.
He's so far off that "he can no longer go back even to the pity of men!"
He who truly walks on an unbeaten track is "cut off from others" physically *and* psychologically.
If he fails, he gets no sympathy.
He's so far off that "he can no longer go back even to the pity of men!"
#2: The young think in absolutes - and pay a terrible price
The young "respect and despise without the art of nuance."
We worship what only deserves mild affection; reject completely what can teach us things.
Nietzsche: "Introduce a little art into your feelings."
The young "respect and despise without the art of nuance."
We worship what only deserves mild affection; reject completely what can teach us things.
Nietzsche: "Introduce a little art into your feelings."
#3: We self-sabotage when we don't have external foes to wage war against.
"Under conditions of peace the warlike man attacks himself."
"Under conditions of peace the warlike man attacks himself."
#4: Don't be attached to your detachment
Nietzsche talks about the "strangeness of the bird" that soars higher so that it can see more and more.
Ultimately the ground disappears.
People whose stock response is - "Do you have a study for that?" - remind me of this bird.
Nietzsche talks about the "strangeness of the bird" that soars higher so that it can see more and more.
Ultimately the ground disappears.
People whose stock response is - "Do you have a study for that?" - remind me of this bird.
#5: You don't want complete understanding
Nietzsche: "A thing explained is a thing we have no further concern with."
We engage deeply with mysteries, not so much with answered questions.
Let the world, your lover, even yourself - be a bit of a puzzle.
Nietzsche: "A thing explained is a thing we have no further concern with."
We engage deeply with mysteries, not so much with answered questions.
Let the world, your lover, even yourself - be a bit of a puzzle.
#6: The sexes miscommunicate because they dance to different rhythms
Nietzsche: "The same emotions in man and woman are different in tempo: therefore man and woman never cease to misunderstand one another."
Well-arranged differences in tempo, however, make a song.
Nietzsche: "The same emotions in man and woman are different in tempo: therefore man and woman never cease to misunderstand one another."
Well-arranged differences in tempo, however, make a song.
#7: Don't sacrifice your face - for your mask
"Who has not," Nietzsche asks, "for the sake of his reputation - sacrificed himself?"
A uniform persona, regardless of inner change, has social benefits
But be wary
A role played long enough replaces the self that was playing it
"Who has not," Nietzsche asks, "for the sake of his reputation - sacrificed himself?"
A uniform persona, regardless of inner change, has social benefits
But be wary
A role played long enough replaces the self that was playing it
#8: Shame spreads like an infection
Nietzsche: "To be ashamed of one's immorality: that is a step on the ladder at the end of which one is also ashamed of one's morality."
One starts off accepting a mistake, and soon accepts he's always mistaken.
Beware of contagious shame.
Nietzsche: "To be ashamed of one's immorality: that is a step on the ladder at the end of which one is also ashamed of one's morality."
One starts off accepting a mistake, and soon accepts he's always mistaken.
Beware of contagious shame.
#9: Make decisions, and don't waver.
"Close your ears to even the best counter-argument once the decision has been taken."
You need this "occasional will to stupidity" if you are to ever finish the things you start.
"Close your ears to even the best counter-argument once the decision has been taken."
You need this "occasional will to stupidity" if you are to ever finish the things you start.
#10: Fantastic writing advice for all content creators, twitter thread writers, and contemporary idea merchants:
"The more abstract the truth you want to teach the more you must seduce the senses to it."
"The more abstract the truth you want to teach the more you must seduce the senses to it."
#11: What You Can Do is very distinct from Who You Are
Don't mistake your talent for your identity.
Nietzsche: "What a person is begins to betray itself when his talent declines – when he ceases to show what he can do.
"Talent is also finery; finery is also a hiding place."
Don't mistake your talent for your identity.
Nietzsche: "What a person is begins to betray itself when his talent declines – when he ceases to show what he can do.
"Talent is also finery; finery is also a hiding place."
#12: We are pregnant with thoughts that others help us birth
On good conversation: "One seeks a midwife for his thoughts, another someone to whom he can be a midwife: thus originates a good conversation."
On good conversation: "One seeks a midwife for his thoughts, another someone to whom he can be a midwife: thus originates a good conversation."
#13: Of all your drives, the strongest one is the monarch to whom everything else inside you will eventually bow
Nietzsche: "To our strongest drive, the tyrant in us, not only our reason but also our conscience submits."
Find out who's the king in your inner kingdom
Nietzsche: "To our strongest drive, the tyrant in us, not only our reason but also our conscience submits."
Find out who's the king in your inner kingdom
#14: Act within constraints - for a long time - and you'll go far.
To stay within boundaries - whether imposed by self or some other - is key to having self-respect.
To stay within boundaries - whether imposed by self or some other - is key to having self-respect.
#15: People today have "inherited varying standards and values", and this creates psychological "unrest, disorder, doubt."
*The will to act* needs a firm heaven to aim at, and a firm hell to avoid.
An age that worships skepticism retards this will to act.
*The will to act* needs a firm heaven to aim at, and a firm hell to avoid.
An age that worships skepticism retards this will to act.
#16: Democracy makes people spiritually confused, and this creates the demand for "tyrants" who will settle questions - one way or the other
"The democratization of Europe is at the same time an involuntary arrangement for the breeding of tyrants – in every sense of that word."
"The democratization of Europe is at the same time an involuntary arrangement for the breeding of tyrants – in every sense of that word."
#17: We sometimes choose ignorance, and for good reason.
The spirit is like a stomach, and ignores what it cannot "digest."
We occasionally experience an inner "contentment with the dark" - that's our intellectual digestive tracks closing up to what they can't process.
The spirit is like a stomach, and ignores what it cannot "digest."
We occasionally experience an inner "contentment with the dark" - that's our intellectual digestive tracks closing up to what they can't process.
#18: You need enemies - to be a good friend
Enemies are "conduit systems" for the envious, intolerant, and combative urges inside us.
We can be pleasant to our friends once we get the unpleasant impulses out of the system - with the help of an enemy.
Enemies are "conduit systems" for the envious, intolerant, and combative urges inside us.
We can be pleasant to our friends once we get the unpleasant impulses out of the system - with the help of an enemy.
#19: You must take multiple steps back - for a big leap forward
Nietzsche: "‘Bad! Bad! What? Is he not going – backwards?’
"– Yes!
"But you ill understand him if you complain about it. He goes backwards as everyone goes backwards who wants to take a big jump."
Nietzsche: "‘Bad! Bad! What? Is he not going – backwards?’
"– Yes!
"But you ill understand him if you complain about it. He goes backwards as everyone goes backwards who wants to take a big jump."
The final line of Beyond Good And Evil: "The wedding day has come for light and darkness."
If that's a wedding you'd like to attend, read this book.
Thank you for your time.
Follow @oldbooksguy for more threads on fascinating old books.
If that's a wedding you'd like to attend, read this book.
Thank you for your time.
Follow @oldbooksguy for more threads on fascinating old books.
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Here are some more banger lines from Beyond Good And Evil. Enjoy!
https://twitter.com/oldbooksguy/status/1377987214131400705?s=19
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