4 Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes That Offer Deep Insights into Life
Behind every strong person, there’s a problem that gave them no choice.
Friedrich Nietzsche is a german philosopher and influential thinker of the 19th century.
The “human condition and self-realization” is the concept first discovered by Nietzsche. He believed that for a man to achieve superiority in life, he must hone his craft.
Nietzsche felt our meaning of life ‘comes from within’ and is not a choice depicted by society or religion. Besides, Nietzsche’s work was focused on topics:
- Power
- Self-consciousness
- Religion
- Truth, and
- Meaning of existence
After spending 30 years writing about critical criticism, Nietzsche’s health worsened. In about 1900, moments before Nietzsche left the physical world, he cried and uttered:
“Mutter, ich bin dumm” (“mother, I am stupid”)
Nietzsche deeply cared for his family until his death interrupted. Most of his highly recognizable work is from 1880–1890. His teachings and quotes deeply affect people to this date.
Let’s read 4 quotes by Nietzsche that are a hallmark of his matured philosophical thoughts.
1. Fear of understanding
Nietzsche spent his life traveling from Switzerland to France to his homeland in Germany.
Though he had to re-situate, he always felt that deep thinkers are never welcomed wherever we go. He understood that a deep thinker gets misperceived.
Friedrich believed:
“Every deep thinker is more afraid of being understood than of being misunderstood.”
The most privileged thing for a deep thinker or a philosopher is to get “acknowledged.”
As soon as words come out of our blessed mouths, they feel like pointed arrows. In most cases, deep thinkers are somewhat misunderstood than understood.
If you’re like me, you’d always let go of the idea of explaining philosophy to others.
How to apply?
Our society and culture are drifting into one giant fireball.
People believe our lives are complicated enough to let a deep thinker juggle them all. But basically, what we know about life is completely wrong and false.
You might think that since you couldn’t get into Harvard, life is unfaithful to you. Is that it?
Here are a few Ancient concepts that set apart the understood and misunderstood:
- Agapi (Love)
- Logos (Identity)
- Praxis (Process)
If you feel your words are unwelcomed, don’t forget to gulp down the regret and remorse.
It’s better to waste energy on something worthwhile than to change the already complicated minds of people. Remember, deep thinkers don’t need to *prove* themselves.
2. The first negotiator
My grandfather had me swear:
“My child, never be the first negotiator.”
I never understood what he meant at first. Maybe he meant not to offer the candies to my friends who first caused the fight. Now, Nietzsche’s quote makes sense.
“The lonely one offers his hand too quickly to whomever he encounters,” — utters Nietzsche.
We all know the world is a messed-up place. My grandfather says if you’re not taking benefit of the situation, the opposing party will. When we spot a situation, lonely may it seem, we must never offer our hand too quickly out of empathy.
How to apply?
Thomas Shelby, the character of Peaky Blinders, says:
“Never reply when you’re angry. Never make a promise when you’re happy. Never make a decision when you’re sad.”
We often say “yes” to a lot of opportunities because we think we’re off the beaten track.
In professional life, you might pull back a great deal of negotiation by offering cost-to-cost services. This is because you probably thought your company would die.
Loneliness is entirely normal. But never hover it above your mind. Only take decisions when you’re full of life.
Never be the first negotiator. A simply ‘lonely yes’ can sabotage your reputation.
3. Unacceptance is a slow death
Friedrich Nietzsche says:
“Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.”
Übermensch or Superman is a concept popularised by Nietzsche. It regards a person who climbs out of problems by overcoming sorrow. As it’s written in “Thus Spoke Zarathustra:”
“Man is a rope, fastened between animal and Übermensch — a rope over an abyss.”
Übermensch means embracing everything we encounter. When a person thinks beyond good and evil, he understands that life is sometimes grey too. Only then a responsible man explores his creative abilities to their fullest potential.
Nietzsche believed that all humans are capable of searching the superman within. Most people are occupied with daily life struggles to an extent they don’t want to hear the truth.
People chase the truth that life will end someday.
How to apply?
Open Journal of Philosophy indicates that Nietzsche’s Übermensch has attributes like:
- Self-confidence
- Self-mastery
- Flexibility
- Courage
- Etc.
Gains occurs in our life when we believe we’re lacking something.
Mastership is being rational about our feet in the mud — is it shallow or deep?
I am not telling you to announce your level, but a person must know where he stands. A person must know his lacking and weaknesses. Living in an illusion bubble never serves. Get a reality check before reality crushes you down into the sour apple core.
Because whatever you suffer is based on your (real-time) weaknesses — not illusions.
4. Shedding is a beautiful process
- Growing up, I was always afraid to lead.
Maybe I didn’t want to shed my skin for a new experience — I was comfortable in my cozy space.
But Nietzsche says:
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.
A butterfly emerges from a monarch caterpillar and sheds its skin without knocking on everyone’s door in the neighborhood. Nobody knows how many caterpillars, millions each minute, shed their skin. Snakes endure the same way.
- It is human nature to learn and widen our experience.
You see, “one day” is never enough to behold the world’s experiences. If you’re alive now, make that moment useful.
Learn, counter question, and research, like the world is your oyster — never stop learning.
How to apply?
When we don’t learn, we die.
Round the clock, many people are working for opportunities similar to those you have. And what do you do to honor them? You deny!
If opportunities come to you on a silver platter, why miss them?
Think like this: Learning a new experience or maybe widening your mind’s tunnel has no drawback.
If it has no downside, it is worth the struggle.
Final thoughts:
Nietzsche’s mustache stuns readers to date.
Being ordinary was never his piece of cake. A deep thinker always has an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
If you’re a deep thinker, are you using it wisely?
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