…modem pessimism, and a more ancient and stronger expression in the teaching of Buddha; but it is part of Christianity also, if more doubtfully and ambiguously so but not for that reason any less seductive. The whole pose of “man against the world,” of man as a “world-negating” principle, of man as the measure…
If we simply called ourselves,using an old expression,godless, or unbelievers, or perhaps immoralists,we do not, believe that this would even come close to designating us: We are all three in such an advanced stage that one — that you, my curious friends — could never comprehend how we feel at this point. Ours…
The lack of personality always takes its revenge: A weakened, thin, extinguished personality that denies itself is no longer fit for anything good –least of all for philosophy. “Selflessness” has no value either in heaven or on earth. All great problems demand great love, and of that only strong, round, secure spirits who have…
Good morning! Some snapshots of things related to us, — while we were sleeping… For a more complete rendering visit the NEW YORK TIMES. FRACTURED Screenwriters — who are unionized — have gone on strike in an attempt to use their collective leverage to avoid becoming Hollywood’s equivalent of adjunct professors. Today, only one…
Late to Starbucks today. Began my day by coming “out of retirement” to assist my son with a new client. I was reminded of the way of life, the day to day routine that was my normal for many years. Is anything ever truly behind us? I do not think so. We are marked…
The tragedy begins…. Thus Nietzsche ends this section of The Gay Science, book four. Every ending brings a beginning, an interregnum, an interlude when “what comes next” cracks the old constraints, a climax of a chain of events, only described as WTF, when you crest the apex, the highest point in a roller coaster,…
When Zarathustra was thirty years old, he left his home and Lake Urmi and went into the mountains. There he enjoyed his spirit and his solitude, and for ten years did not tire of that. But at last his heart changed –and on morning he rose with the dawn, stepped before the sun, and…
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; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain…
I admire the courage and wisdom of Socrates in everything he did, said, — and did not say. This mocking and enamored monster and pied piper of Athens, who made the most overweening youths tremble and sob, was not only the wisest chatterer of all time: he was equally great in silence. I wish…
For seeing the ultimate beautiesof a work,no knowledge or good will is sufficient;this requires the rarest of lucky accidents: The clouds that veil these peakshave to lift for onceso that we see them glowing in the sun. Not only do we have to standin precisely the right spot in order to see this,but the…
