Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzschewas a German philosopher, cultural critic, poet and Latin and Greek scholar whose work has exerted a profound influence on Western philosophy and modern intellectual history. He began his career as a classical philologist before turning to philosophy. He became the youngest ever to hold the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel in 1869, at the age of 24. Nietzsche resigned in 1879 due to health problems that plagued him most of his life, and...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth15 October 1844
CityRocken, Germany
CountryGermany
I would only believe in a god who could dance. And when I saw my devil I found him serious, thorough, profound, and solemn: it was the spirit of gravity—through him all things fall. Not by wrath does one kill but by laughter. Come, let us kill the spirit of gravity!
And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.
In laughter all that is evil comes together, but is pronounced holy and absolved by its own bliss.
Not by wrath does one kill, but by laughter.
And let that day be lost to us on which we did not dance once! And let that wisdom be false to us that brought no laughter with it!
He who laughs best today, will also laughs last.
This crown to crown the laughing man, this rose-wreath crown: I myself have set this crown upon my head, I myself have pronounced my laughter holy.
For a significant man woman, the one thought he values greatly, to the laughter and scorn of insignificant men, is a key to hidden treasure chambers; for those others, it is nothing but a piece of old iron.
What does it matter whether I am shown to be right! I am right too much!--And he who laughs best today will also laugh last.
Laughter means: taking a mischievous delight in someone else's uneasiness, but with a good conscience.
A man who whinnies with noisy laughter, surpasses all the animals in vulgarity.
Learn to laugh at yourselves as one must laugh!
You highest men whom I have ever seen! This is my suspicion about you and my secret laughter: I guess that you would call my superman--a devil!
Not with wrath do we kill, but with laughter. Come, let us kill the spirit of gravity!