Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher. I found him online as I was searching the origins of the quote, that which does not kill us makes us stronger. That is Nietzsche. Then I found other quotes of his. They are too good to pass up so I decided to make a blog post about them. I list them here in the order of impact they had on me. The quotes are italicized. I also added my comments for each quote. Enjoy.
To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.
The above quote is a favorite. Because I am always thinking about the concept of suffering. Everyone in the world suffers to one degree or another. Some may purposely afflict suffering on themselves. For some, suffering is thrust upon them. And then, there are those who spend their entire lives trying to avoid suffering. To me, that is the worst way to suffer.
There are no facts, only interpretations.
The above quote is another favorite. Because there truly is no such things as facts. Another quote to help illustrate this idea is from Katherine Dunn, no two people ever walk into the same room. Imagine a tree. We can all believe in the idea of a tree. But it is not truth. Because each person sees the tree differently. A tree hugging hippie will view a tree differently than a Canadian lumber jack.
He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.
The above quote is powerful. It is no longer a question of how. The internet has made sure of that. Online we can find the how. And so can every one else. But the Internet cannot tell you why. Only you know why. And when you find it, you will dominate it. Because it is yours.
You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.
The well known pithy version of the above quote is, there is more than one way to skin a cat. But I like Nietzsche’s quote better because I happen to like cats. On your way through life, if one path seems closed, find another way. Remember, the how is out there.
There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.
I think he wrote the above quote for me. I can talk the talk but can I walk the walk. He also wrote this quote for fat doctors.
There are various eyes. Even the Sphinx has eyes: and as a result there are various truths, and as a result there is no truth.
There are no facts, and there are no truths. Only nature.
Ah, women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent.
Amen brother.
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.
I have fun with my wife.
Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.
The above quote has many layers. To me, it follows the same idea about facts and truths. On this planet, nature is the true reality. The closer we are to nature, the closer we experience reality.
We have art in order not to die of the truth.
I think we are obsessed with trying to understand. But when it comes to art, we don’t need to understand. We only need faith.
In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.
I see my kids make a game out of a stick and thin air. And I envy that.
To forget one’s purpose is the commonest form of stupidity.
Follow your why.
The doer alone learneth.
I read another quote that said, Be impatient with actions, have patience with results. You can’t learn how to kick a ball in a book. Get out and kick something.
When you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.
It is scary to look deep inside our souls. It is filled with all of our life’s experiences. But it is critical to know who we are and to help find our why.
All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Get out and walk. Preferably in nature.
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