Friedrich Nietzsche
- 1. “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” — Twilight of the Idols, “Maxims and Arrows,” §12 (1889)
- 2. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” — Twilight of the Idols, “Maxims and Arrows,” §8 (1889)
- 3. “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.” — The Gay Science, Book III, §125 (1882)
- 4. “There are no facts, only interpretations.” — Nachgelassene Fragmente (Posthumous Fragments, 1886–1887)
- 5. “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “On the Redemption” (1883–1885)
- 6. “He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster.” — Beyond Good and Evil, §146 (1886)
- 7. “And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” — Beyond Good and Evil, §146 (1886)
- 8. “The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.” — Untimely Meditations, “Schopenhauer as Educator,” §1 (1874)
- 9. “In heaven, all the interesting people are missing.” — Human, All Too Human, §150 (1878)
- 10. “Without music, life would be a mistake.” — Twilight of the Idols, “Maxims and Arrows,” §33 (1889)
- 11. “The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die. As well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind.” — The Dawn, §573 (1881)
- 12. “In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” — Beyond Good and Evil, §156 (1886)
- 13. “The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part I, “The Flies in the Marketplace” (1883)
- 14. “There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “On Reading and Writing” (1883)
- 15. “Man is something that shall be overcome.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue, §3 (1883)
- 16. “Whoever cannot command himself must obey.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part I, “On the Way of the Creator” (1883)
- 17. “One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue, §5 (1883)
- 18. “There are no moral phenomena at all, but only a moral interpretation of phenomena.” — Beyond Good and Evil, §108 (1886)
- 19. “Faith means not wanting to know what is true.” — The Antichrist, §52 (1888)
- 20. “The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.” — The Dawn, §297 (1881)
- 21. “We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “The Other Dancing Song” (1883)
- 22. “Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” — Human, All Too Human, §483 (1878)
- 23. “To predict the behavior of ordinary people in advance, you only have to assume that they will always try to escape a disagreeable situation with the smallest possible expenditure of intelligence.” — Human, All Too Human, §68 (1878)
- 24. “Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.” — Paraphrased from Beyond Good and Evil, §39 (1886)
- 25. “The thought of suicide is a great consolation: by means of it one gets through many a dark night.” — Beyond Good and Evil, §157 (1886)
- 26. “The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part I, “On the Friend” (1883)
- 27. “Every deep thinker is more afraid of being understood than of being misunderstood.” — Beyond Good and Evil, §290 (1886)
- 28. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” — Twilight of the Idols, “Maxims and Arrows,” §34 (1889)
- 29. “There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part I, “On the Despisers of the Body” (1883)
- 30. “Become who you are.” — The Gay Science, §270 (1882)
- 31. “You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue, §5 (1883)
- 32. “Morality is the herd-instinct in the individual.” — The Gay Science, §116 (1882)
- 33. “He who despises himself still respects himself as one who despises.” — Beyond Good and Evil, §78 (1886)
- 34. “The world is beautiful, but has a disease called man.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “On the Pitying” (1883)
- 35. “The doer alone learneth.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part I, “On the Bestowing Virtue” (1883)
- 36. “Art is the proper task of life.” — The Will to Power, §796 (posthumous, 1888)
- 37. “Man is the cruelest animal.” — Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “Reading and Writing” (1883)
- 38. “To forget one’s purpose is the commonest form of stupidity.” — The Antichrist, §29 (1888)
- 39. “A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.” — Human, All Too Human, §405 (1878)
- 40. “I am not a man, I am dynamite.” — Ecce Homo, Preface, §1 (1888)
What is Friedrich Nietzsche best known for?
Friedrich Nietzsche is best known for his revolutionary ideas about morality, truth, and human nature. He challenged traditional religious and philosophical beliefs with concepts like “God is dead,” “Will to Power,” and “Übermensch,” inspiring existentialism and modern psychology with his deep reflections on freedom and meaning.
What does Nietzsche mean by “God is dead”?
When Nietzsche declared “God is dead,” he didn’t mean it literally. He meant that traditional religious faith and moral systems had lost their power in modern society, forcing humanity to create new values and meaning through self-realization instead of relying on divine authority or old moral codes.
Why are Nietzsche’s quotes so influential?
Nietzsche’s quotes are influential because they challenge conformity and encourage individual strength, self-overcoming, and critical thinking. His writings confront uncomfortable truths about human motivation, morality, and society, pushing readers to face existence honestly and develop their own values rather than follow societal norms or dogmas.
What can we learn from Nietzsche’s philosophy today?
Nietzsche’s philosophy teaches self-empowerment, courage, and the importance of creating meaning in a world without absolute truths. His ideas inspire personal growth, resilience in suffering, and independence of thought, values that remain essential in modern life, especially for those questioning social structures and moral conventions.
Which books by Nietzsche are most important to read?
Some of Nietzsche’s most important works include Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, The Gay Science, Twilight of the Idols, and The Antichrist. Each book explores profound ideas on morality, freedom, art, and truth, offering timeless insights that continue to shape modern philosophy and psychology.