More Nietzsche from an Insomniac
"For a typically healthy person, conversely, being sick can even become an energetic stimulus for life, for living more. This, in fact, is how that long period of sickness appears to me now: as it were, I discovered life anew, including myself; I tasted all good and even little things, as others cannot easily taste them-- I turned my will to health, to life, into a philosophy."
For it should be noted: it was during the years of my lowest vitality that I ceased to be a pessimist; the instinct of self-restoration forbade me a philosophy of poverty and discouragement."
Friedrich Nietzsche, Ecce Homo: "Why I Am So Wise"
When you are up at 3:45 a.m. its inspiring to think that physical irregularities can be a source of brilliance. If only my insomnia, my daily violent stomach pain, my nauseating headaches could serve more than to make my life a constant hellish nightmare. In any case, this quote is one of the most clear demonstrations of the role that Nietzsche's physical state played in his philosophy. He turned his "will to health, to life, into a philosophy." That sentence is a wonderful quick capture of Nietzsche and how brilliantly inspiring he can be, because if I could explain in one quick statement what he is about I would say he was trying to become healthful and vital. Earlier he declares, "I am a decadent, I am also the opposite. My proof for this is, among other things, that I have always instinctively chosen the right means against wretched states...[I] betrayed an absolute instinctive certainty about what was needed..." This is precisely the task he had set for himself, ridding Western philosophy and moral life of "decadence."
Nietzsche was trying to make vibrant and joyful, to render alive the decadent. I was decadent when I first encountered Nietzsche, I still have spells of periodical decadence, but I have begun to be more vibrant because I have tried to make my own philosophy out of a will to health, to life, and ultimately to the most unceasing and irresistable power.
For it should be noted: it was during the years of my lowest vitality that I ceased to be a pessimist; the instinct of self-restoration forbade me a philosophy of poverty and discouragement."
Friedrich Nietzsche, Ecce Homo: "Why I Am So Wise"
When you are up at 3:45 a.m. its inspiring to think that physical irregularities can be a source of brilliance. If only my insomnia, my daily violent stomach pain, my nauseating headaches could serve more than to make my life a constant hellish nightmare. In any case, this quote is one of the most clear demonstrations of the role that Nietzsche's physical state played in his philosophy. He turned his "will to health, to life, into a philosophy." That sentence is a wonderful quick capture of Nietzsche and how brilliantly inspiring he can be, because if I could explain in one quick statement what he is about I would say he was trying to become healthful and vital. Earlier he declares, "I am a decadent, I am also the opposite. My proof for this is, among other things, that I have always instinctively chosen the right means against wretched states...[I] betrayed an absolute instinctive certainty about what was needed..." This is precisely the task he had set for himself, ridding Western philosophy and moral life of "decadence."
Nietzsche was trying to make vibrant and joyful, to render alive the decadent. I was decadent when I first encountered Nietzsche, I still have spells of periodical decadence, but I have begun to be more vibrant because I have tried to make my own philosophy out of a will to health, to life, and ultimately to the most unceasing and irresistable power.
1 Comments:
This comment is half-related to that of the insomniac- BUT I need to get these thoughts out- and am unable to post a thought on this website, other than under the "comment" category...
The will to live from suffering pain. I must say there is an appreciation of life when one suffers physically, but I wonder if the same can be said for emotional suffering? And does the oppresion of basic human rights (for example, banning gay marriage and abortion) affect a will to live? I know that oppresion on makes certain groups and individuals fight harder. - but as to whether or not the fight is similar to Nietzsche's will to live, I am unsure
Our government(natioanl and local) is threatening the rights of women and gays- and what makes me sick is that many "leaders" take time out of their day to TAKE AWAY rights, when they could be creating new health care plans and finding ways to better educate today's youth. JFC (I will ALWAYS use this anacronym to stand for Jesus Fucking Christ- I find it more pleasant to write and say)so... JFC, what is with finding ways to oppress people in our own country?- meanwhile claiming to fight against oppession of peoples in othert nations (Iraq) - ok I am done, sorry for the tangent from Nietzsche
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