Favorite Quotes from "Beyond Good and Evil"

[tombeddoe]

You cannot extract maxims from Nietzsche. You must read the whole collection. His project (I think) centers around the theodicy, that is, the question of evil. He is not the self-aggrandizing fool that he's been made out to be. Will to Power is not an ethos; at least not Nietzsche's!

[alifeofreason]

Throw away the Rand and pick up the Nietzsche.

[doughboycod2]

@MultiErgoproxy haha I see. We both have to be high to communicate it lol :D.

[doughboycod2]

@MultiErgoproxy Well you are more intelligent than me. It was a difficult read for me to dive into and understand.

[guacho123srk]

hey im going to buy this book! i think its interesting...do you recommend it?

[apostatanus]

@guacho123srk If you begin to read Nietzsche i would recommend you to first read ''human, all-to-human'' or maybe zarathustra.

[doughboycod2]

@guacho123srk Its a good book but a hard read.

[NoirFelis]

I think what Nietzsche was point towards was that some of the bible was originally written in Greek aside from Hebrew

[rbilkie]

"Under peaceful conditions, a war-like man sets upon himself."

This is a common theme in Zarathustra. It is referring to "overcoming" oneself, Nietzsche's way of expressing the desire for constant self-improvement.

[ArchitectOfEvil]

@rbilkie To me it says that the initiative of a war-like man comes from internal beliefs, or just a fundamental need to control things, regardless of the state of affairs.

[apostatanus]

@ArchitectOfEvil I'd say it means, a war-like man is a man who has to turn his inner hate constantly outside, when the possibility to that fall away, he cant redirect his self-hate anymore, and he has to face his pain probably for the first time in his life: maybe it'll lead him to ''destroy himself''.

[yammyspeed13]

I always understood that as meaning that in times of peace a warrior will train hard his body and mind for war.

[doctorw2]

so icy so cold that one thinks he glows, its talking about religious people.

[8bobthebuilder]

You don't display much depth of understanding of Nietzsche - you read ones that you admit you don't even understand - how is something you don't understand your `favourite'? lol -- you could have just said aloud each quote verbatim instead of trying to interpret and explain them - by trying to explain them , you botched them! Lol.

[chillyrooster]

@8bobthebuilder LMAO SHHH DONT TELL HIM I WAS ENJOYING HIM TEACHING HIMSELF AND US I THINK HE SHOULD DO DR.SEUSS NEXT I LIKE THEM IN A HOUSE OR WITH A MOUSE...GREEN EGGS AND HAM

[ziweiwu]

great quote , i like the duration one. Being a well life is about, not too get too high or low, but maintain a middle groud for long duration.

[twispsalterego]

this post thing sucks...

the warlike man attacks himself for he knows nothing else.

you forgot the main title "that which is done out of love takes place beyond good and evil"

and my personal favorite

"he who despises themselves nonetheless respects himself as one who despises."

good overview tho. props!

[chillyrooster]

@twispsalterego EXACTLY

[twispsalterego]

well...the warlike man attacks himself for that is all he knows.

bro you missed two vital parts, one being the title.

"that which is done out of love takes place beyond good and evil"

and my favorite

"he who despises themself nonetheless respects himself as one who despises."

nice overview tho. props.

[twispsalterego]

hmmm...the warlike man attacks himself for that is all he knows.

brotherman you forgot the two important parts of this book, one being the title.

"that which is done out of love takes place beyond good and evil."

and my personal favorite

"he who respects himself nonetheless respects himself as one who despises."

good overview tho.

[twispsalterego]

well... the warlike man attacks himself because that is the only thing he knows.

brotherman you forgot the two big quotes. one being the book name "that which is done out of love takes place beyond good and evil" and the poignant "he who despises himself nonetheless respects himself as one who despises."

nice basic summary tho.

[zee757]

I just love Nietzsche! :D haha

[ejs6c6]

theres an iphone app called iNietzsche. its a collection of quotes. pretty cool app.

[1thousandways]

... that said, given it was Nietzsche who said this, I'm sure there are other dimensions and - more importantly - reasons WHY Nietzsche felt it necessary to point this out.

[1thousandways]

"Under peaceful conditions the war-like man sets upon himself". At one level what Nietzsche is saying is very simple I think: Without a reason for expending his aggression on others the war-like man will attack himself. The war-like man has an internal well-spring of aggression, his aggression (for want of a better word) has to be expended somehow even if it can only be expended (I need a thesaurus) through attacking himself.

[splifflover]

"our vanity desires...what we do best...[is that which] is considered hardest for us" using Nietzsche's framework would equate to the vain always pursuing and only expressing what they're already good at or have perfected. There's elusive and perfectionist quality that accompanies the vain. They won't suffer embarrassing their ego doing anything that might reveal an incapacity. At times the subject or objective need not be hard but simply unknown for them to avoid it.

[rockman22]

They are called aphorisms broham.

[SuperAlexrios]

i hate assholes like this that can not elaborated shit by themselves

[Dirtyeurek]

1:26 - "Under peaceful conditions a warlike man sets upon himself." Two ways to think of it. 1) Another similar quote "Cry in the dojo laugh on the battle field." Warrior not at war battle each other to sharpen there skills." 2) A man who love destruction, with nothing to destroy will likely end up destroying himself.

[Druwg]

the one about the riddle and the terrible person, which aphorism is it in the book.

[Druwg]

i think the quote "under peaceful conditions, the war-like man sets upon himself" i have never read this aphorism of nietzche's but from my knowledge of nietzche it could mean a few things, and maybe all at once. of them being, that the war-like man with nothing else to do will "attack" himself. and also that because we, humanity are shrouded in war to bring peace would lead to us to bring war on who we think oursleves or the human race to be (ie to become philosophical, or introspective).

[Druwg]

is then philosophy just another of humanities acts of -violence

hehe, an attempt at nietzche's style.

[gabrieljardine]

the second quote is very simple to me: he who likes fighting others all the time fights himself only when there is no one else to fight... you could also say analyse instead of fight

it's interesting how some quotes seem so simple to some and so confusing to others... the first quote you said, i couldn't really understand what it meant, but you gave me a nice interpretation of it... only interpretations, no certanties: thus is nietzsche,thus is the universe(guess i)

[seigneurvoland666]

he's the first philosopher i havent read. Oddly enough, i never managed to read beyond good and evil.

[NihilistCounterOrder]

The aphorism about the cold and ice, is interpreted as thus, When a man of science who is cold, distant, and has repressed his emotions so much as to shield from pain and further worship rationality and reason has become too cold to touch...but at the same time this strength or petrified surface looks as if the mas is great on the inside, and has reached a level of strength and power that sets him apart form the rest...the "glow"..but that is illusion.

[NihilistCounterOrder]

or it can be a bad thing as therein always lies the danger of complacency, correctness, or a feeling of thinking one is right int he way one has found himself anew....thats it.

[NihilistCounterOrder]

The warlike man or the free spirit, attempter, etc, can no longer fight and release his power externally on the grounds of passionate intellectualism, change, and a desire to break the chains of other free spirits or types like himself, the warrior increases his aatcks on himself destroying and rebuilding his own perspectives, perceptions, ideas, etc...he turns in on himself, which could be a great thing as it is what the free spirit does,

[gabrieljardine]

interesting view.. see mine, i think they match

[Druwg]

i think i attepmted the same sort of defintion without the eloquence.

sorry to step on your feet.

[NihilistCounterOrder]

The second quote on war and war like men during times of peace can be taken literally in the sense of the Ancient warriors lived and died for the greatness of their empire, which is what majority of ancient warriors knew to be their duty, in which case if they could not perform their duty they would probably degenerate, ie, whores, debauchery, and the like,...anothe rinterpretation which seems to me a little more accurate at least of my understanding of nietzsche is....

[allnyter]

Dude what the hell, the "blurbs" are called aphorisms, short paragraphs. The reason Nietzsche uses aphorisms may be because he is trying to poetically overcome the influence of language when trying to come to a conclusive thought. language basically restricts us from the extense of our thought/reason/way of living/ way we express ourselves/way we are able to express ourselves. You have alot of homework to do!

[allnyter]

The little blurbs are called aphorisms

[Spalg]

it's arcane enough to some people to be maxims, sucka!

[yogumy]

high feelings in a long term can mean chronic madness

[zardozcs]

I listened for an echo and heard nothing but praise. -- Great quote and story. So is that your pickup line when you meet a woman? ;-)

Perhaps you have to save it for one of the later dates.

[clay70]

Hey there Cropper, I think I understand what FN is saying in the "Greek language" quote: he is referring to the overman of that period who would have flourished in the histories 1st great mvt. towards knowledge (The Greeks). The Greek philosophers and writers ( Birth of Tragedy) were the best the world had to offer at that time. Thus, God spoke Greek. God also learned German, English, French and Swahili as time went on.

[bangNL94]

ehm, is this actually even aabout the game or what o.o

[MassNssen]

You are a pathetic human being, you should be aware of that.

[bangNL94]

-.-

[trisix99]

lol such an agreeable statement.

[xxmonniieexx]

Subtle of God to learn greek and not to learn it better, he is refering to the new testament.

[bangNL94]

is this a book made before or after game, or is it even the same story?

[mikecol05]

before

[Nipstudent]

Great reading mate, I would like to provide an interpretation for a passage you skipped over a bit. I believe when Nietzsche says "sentuality hastens the growth of love, too quickly..." he is alluding to section 44 and his discussion of the "plan" man. This metaphor for all mankind described that man grows more strong and powerful under adverse conditions. I believe he is using the concept sensuality to refer to being too connected to the fabricated world we have all created for ourselves.

[NamwobEvad]

The 2nd one about the icy one that appears to glow sounds to me to be talking of Schopenhauer and certain scientists who've lost the warmth and zest of life.

If you think Nietzsche is hard to interpret try Dylan Thomas lol. N. is a pretty simple poet.

[NamwobEvad]

"Under warlike conditions,a peaceful man sets upon himself." It means that during bad times, a man that doesn't know how to fight or hasn't learned (not talking physically), tends to self-destruct.

[mysteryschool7]

Nietzsche's notions of "will to power" combined with ideas of "master and slave morality" demonstrate a lustful justification for satisfying one's own lower pleasures.

This is why I think his ideas resonate within the black metal crowd and the church of Satan.

Do I think Nietzsche was wise? No, I don't. I think he denied the existence of God and mistook emotions within oneself as the law of life. Lustful animalistic emotions are what man should try to overcome;Nietzsche indulged in them.

[maidenbrigade]

I don't agree when you see that he focused on 'lower pleasures' when he talked about 'will to power'..Nietzsche admired great man like Julius Cesar and Napoleon,who had great self-discipline and self reliance,it's hilarious that black metal crowd and Church Of Satan see Nietzsche as a father or their way of thinking

[amadprussian]

Ayn Rand had a problem with his "lust" considering that her own philosophy is more rationality based. Nietzshe's philosophy which is more on gut feeling.

[mysteryschool7]

Ay, Beyond Good and Evil is a terrible read, yet a compelling one. Nietzsche is incoherant in his writing style. He must have been an arrogant bastard which is probably why he went insane (look it up)

Nietzsche was perhaps one of the first to explore the idea of "will to power" as the only motivating factor in all life forms. Rather explicitly Nietzsche denies all philosophers in their quest for wisdom suggesting their is only the wil to power.

[pianistafj]

Exactly what is incoherent about his writing style?

Most well-read philosophy 'junkies' I know unanimously agree that Nietzsche's style is the style par excellence. Quite a few of them, even Kaufman himself, say he sacrificed meaning and clarity, at times, for his unequivocal and unique style. Nevertheless, it didn't keep Kaufman from translating his works.

[mysteryschool7]

that is because you are all intellectual douche bags

[Quantumx3000]

Nietzsche, if you actually understood what he was saying, is not a fun read. It is a depressing, horrifying book. The implications of this book are that, if there is nothing but the Will to Power, morals no longer exist. Every action, despite what we feel motivates us, is only our desire for domination.

[8bobthebuilder]

@Quantumx3000 Actually Nietzsche always gives me a good laugh! His aphorisms have a heavy weight and he often writes like a hammer but he's still funny! :)

[chillyrooster]

@Quantumx3000 LOL WELL PUT

[westogoods]

@Quantumx3000 i realize you posted that comment three years ago, but i disagree. it's really only depressing if you think about it in that negative light. i think what nietzsche has to say is incredibly empowering--even if every thought or action i do is an effort to gain power over something; I don't care. at least i know i have power over what i do (and schopenhauer once said we don't have the power over what we want) and there are no limits to anything. who needs morality or some stupid code

[Quantumx3000]

This was the absolute worst analysis of Beyond Good and Evil that I have ever heard. Every analysis was taken out of context and placed on an elementary level analysis.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to write a review of Beyond Good and Evil without mentioning the Will to Power. This is the foundation of the entire book; without it, it nothing can be seen in context. Every assertion in his book is based on the idea that the only driving force in humanity is the Will to Power.

[nine9s]

What were some of the really atrocious bad guesses?

[MrCropper]

They were so bad, so vague and so far off the mark that I can't remember even the general thrust of their ideas. Most people of course couldn't even venture a guess...

[LedZepplin007]

A question, what's your conclusion on why he said "God has died"

[MrCropper]

Science.

[kobe1federer1]

Dude, You rule beyond measure

[nine9s]

I looked up the part about the icy man glowing. Apparently in German the same word is used for "glowing" and for "red-hot." So people burn their hands on his icy-ness and they think he is full of heat and light.

[cropperb]

That helps. Thank you...

You've sure been perusing the older videos lately... : )

[nine9s]

You leave me no choice. You haven't posted any new videos for two weeks! I need to get my fix somehow.

[coolblackdead]

hi warlike man sets upon himself in peaceful time. those who are aggressive in nature feel lack of opportunity in peaceful time and they become masochistic in nature. even there show of peace is by being harsh on themselves they go fasting or become extremely ascetic.

[nine9s]

"Under peaceful conditions the warlike man sets upon himself." When he has no one to fight and oppose he fights himself because it is his nature to fight. The object he's fighting is secondary.

[ajmporter22]

I have to say, I just got done rereading Beyond Good and Evil and I think you missed the point. Try reading some other philosophers before reading Nietzsche.

[GravityExNihilo]

You read Nietzsche and worship Rand.

Brilliant.

[MKFaizi]

Why would a thinking human being NOT ask for explanations? A reasonable man requires reason. Otherwise, one merely follows orders. If explanations were never asked, the human race would yet be Neanderthl, at best. Requirement of reasonable explanation is not a matter of pride.

[MKFaizi]

"Under peaceful conditions a warlike man sets upon himself."

A warlike man will always make war, no matter what. I do not know German either but this seems pretty self explanatory.

[oooodaxteroooo]

Oh, of course! Everybody that has the chance to lay it low, instead tries to make the best of himself and the human condition.

[MKFaizi]

Pride? If you have read Nietzsche and others -- Schopenhauer or Kierkegaard -- for years, pride has nothing to do with it. Read up on it? You cannot simply read up on it. You have to think on it and write on it and live on it. Philosophy is not an academic study. It is a way of life. Indeed, if you desire to live in the mind, philosophy is life.

[oooodaxteroooo]

Again, and for the last time. This cropper guy is so sad.

And yes, philosophy can structure life and life can give philosophy structure. One without the other means nothing.

[cultureslum]

Just a friendly critique,cropperb...Your delivery's a bit boring.You sound like you're straining your words.You're overannunciating(spelling?).

[PaulMcKeever]

I enjoyed this and, in particular, the quote about the quest for the echo. You say that he is disappointed to receive praise instead of an echo, but if you gave an explanation of why he was disappointed, I missed it. Having never studied Nietzsche, I can only guess (from what little I know) that the man failed to conquer his listeners' minds, winning only their hearts.

[cultureslum]

I'm thinking he meant that he wanted to be understood, and for people to build off of what he said and to overcome him,but all he recieved were followers,though I'm unsure.Nietzsche has to be the most cryptic philosopher I know.Which I think attracts me to him more than others.His style is colorful,unlike the systematic style of the majority.

[nine9s]

This is one of my favorite Nietzsche quotes. He's saying that he want equals for once--people he can relate to, not just people who have nothing to offer him. Rand said something like that in Atlas Shrugged: Mediocre people want inferiors; people of excellence long for equals.

[nine9s]

HAHA just so everyone knows, I posted this explanation before cropper told the story about marrying any girl who'd explain that to him. :)

[nine9s]

An illustration might be in order. Sometimes I'll tell someone about an observation I've made and instead of hearing "Yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean," I get, "Oh. I never thought of that. Wow, you must be really smart." Voice of disappointment indeed. The first time I heard this quote I about fell out of the chair.

[PaulMcKeever]

My wife had another interpretation (and, given that I do not know the context of the quotation, it sounds as plausible as mine): that the man expected an echo of disappointment, but heard none...instead, he heard praise. My wife: the silver lining type.

[cultureslum]

Usually I can understand Nietzsche's metaphors well,but

the quote was from the epigrams & interludes portion,so

it was not in any context.I also hear that his works translated in English are a bit more difficult than in its original German.

[AynRandMotor]

I should note also that She disagrees profoundly with Nietzsche philosophically but not poetically and that She would change'fundamental certainty'to"basic premise". In the desAyn of Her I had to make a "qualum leap" past these 'gravity' principles as man has I-volved to 'levity' existence. Her motor then has to be metaphorically mAynd centered.

[cropperb]

I consider myself intelegent, but you are so cryptic that I just can't follow - its all out of context, which precludes meaning to the words.

[AynRandMotor]

Just "flame-spotting" don't mAynd me, you're doing fine

[AynRandMotor]

Don't neglect her citation in the 25thAyniversary edition of 'TheFountainhead'-"It is not the works, but the belief which is here decisive and determines the order of rank-to employ once more an old religious formula with a new and deeper meaning-it is some fundamental certainty which the noble soul has about itself, something which is not to be sought, is not to be found, and perhaps also not to be lost-the noble soul has reverence for itself.."(FN/TF/AR)

[TakeAleft]

I think its funny you dont get it:)

lets advance slowly here... ehat do you think "Man is a rope stretched between the animal and the Superman - a rope over an abyss" mean??

[cropperb]

I take it to mean that there is a (metaphorical) goal for mankind - the superman. Humans are a step above animals, but not yet what Nietzsche would consider "finished" product. The rope and abyss refers to the tightrope walker in "Zarathustra" and I'm not a Nietzsche scholar, but I would hesitate to assign much detail of meaning to the metaphore. I'm willing to listen to your interpretation though...

[TakeAleft]

I gave my interpretation in "Quotes from "Thus Spake Zarathustra" by Nietzsche"... many meanings, but not that humans are betting than animals an sich.. .more that we are a part of animals as well (dionysos)

[TakeAleft]

"better than"... with regards to the "ecco-quote"... there is only 1 voice in this symbolic allegori... there are no people praising the I, the I is praising it self... this is why Nietsche is calling the I´s voice disappointing... the I is not diaspointed...but eager to hear how good it is

[cropperb]

So what would he have preffered to have heard? What was the echo he was listening for, wanted to hear? He's disapointed in hearing praise for his words, and wants to hear an echo of his words. Who does he want the echo to come from? himself? Is he listening for a literal echo?...

[cultureslum]

I'm thinking he wanted to be understood,but all he recieved was praise and good words...with no real understanding of his teachings.Like you,I'm no expert on Nietzsche,but I am very interested in his work.

[cropperb]

I agree, but "the voice" didn't just want to be understood - it wanted to be equalled, to have someone not just appreciate him, but accompish as much as he. And he was disapointed when all he got was praise for his greatness.

I think Takealeft is using freudian analysis on Nietzsche. That's in bad taste because frued was an idiot and pervert.

[cultureslum]

What makes you say Freud was an idiot and pervert?I haven't read any of his books yet.I've only read a few quotes in others' books.

[cropperb]

Freud wrote during the last days of disintegration in Germany before the country commited suicide and elected Hitler. The culture of Germany was sick as hell, and Freud was a typical thinker at the time - obsessed with sex, murder and the depravity of man. Lots of thinkers at the time in Germany were writing books and plays that were sick and bankrupt - like freud's writings.

[cultureslum]

...But how does that make his theories wrong?Like,give me an example of one of them proven wrong.

[cropperb]

His theories are not provable - in that sense they are not theories. You have to accept his assertions without proof. Like, for example, all humans have a desire to commit suicide, or all men have a desire to kill their fathers and rape their mothers. I mean its just sick, senseless bull crap. No surprise that the pre-hitler culture found freud captivating. (And modern psycotherapy is freudian in its essence - and more harmful than helpful. Its not based on theory at all, just faith in freud.)

[cultureslum]

I have to disagree that all psychotherapy is harmful.The practice of it helps form a catharsis to repressed feelings.The analyst offers him/herself to be a mirror to the person's hidden feelings...Freud's interpretations on the other hand,I can't say whether I agree or not.Though,if you pay attention,some of it it seems evident.

[cropperb]

I didn't say ALL psychotherapy is harmful - just the vast majority. And all that talk about mirroring, repression, hidden feelings - all freud. Repression is possible, but that doesn't mean that man is a psychotic, self-deluded suicide rapist. Seriously, a good course in Objectivist psychology would benifit people more than would ten years in an analyst's chair.

[cultureslum]

I know repression,mirroring,etc. are Freudian,and that's why I'm not completely against his ideas.Though,

from what I've read,his views are sometimes extreme...

Tell me briefly about objective psychology and how it differs,please.

[cropperb]

I flattered that you think I could give such a summary in a comment thread. Maybe I'll do a video... But if you're interested, read "The Psychology of Self-Asteem" by Nathaniel Branden and anything by the psychologist Edith Packer.

[cultureslum]

I just thought you could give the basics of it,not really go into the actual explanation,or maybe send a message to me.

I'll probably check those out after I finish the books I'm reading.

[cropperb]

The basics: be rational and selfish (that is a redundancy); do not sacrifice for others and don't ask or expect anyone to sacrifice for you; judge others and be prepared to be judged; have the self-respect to be an atheist. If you know Objectivism fairly well, those terms should make pretty good sense.

[cultureslum]

I'll read into it,though I don't think I'll change my mind about traditional psychology,which I have seen results for.Though,I am open-minded and any improvement

in psychology is welcome.

[MKFaizi]

Interesting that you are not against Nietzsche's ideas as long as you can equate them with Freudian thought. SOMETIMES extreme? Dude was extreme as hell -- twenty four/seven. Cute how the boy says that we must keep in mind that Nietszhe eventually went insane. I reckon so. Yet, if it was only your garden variety insanity, could have been avoided. It was subtle of God to learn Greek but not too well. Better to remain obscure if you expect people to worship you.

[fntime]

@cultureslum If trying to live life by a standard

of reality & truth is extreme, you will find this

psychology extreme. If you would rather,

incorporate the beliefs of others, even when

they enslave, then I wonder, why you are

bothering to search through ideas, that

are in opposition to today idealogy!!!!!

But, I wish you well in your search!

[TakeAleft]

Im sorry to say that you dont get the one with the praising ecco.. you really dont:)

Compare with this: Man is a rope stretched between the animal and the Superman - a rope over an abyss... so cropperB... what do you think it(both of them) means??

[cropperb]

I think you are insane. What is incorrect about my interpretation of the echo quote?

[TakeAleft]

Okay, I know Nietzsche very well...About God and Greece, youll find the answer in "The birth of Tragedy" or something like that...dont know how it is translated