Quotes from Friedrich Nietzsche

Our loathing of dirt may be so great as to prevent our cleaning ourselves—justifying ourselves.

To recognize untruth as a condition of life: that, to be sure, means to resist customary value-sentiments in a dangerous fashion; and a philosophy which ventures to do so places itself, by that act alone, beyond good and evil.

The law, or the thoroughly realistic formalization of certain conditions for the self-preservation of a community, forbids certain actions directed against the community. However, it does not forbid the disposition that produces these actions, for it needs these action for other ends.

Sensuality often forces the growth of love too much, so that its root remains weak, and is easily torn up.

Today we no longer have any pity for the concept of free will: we know only too well what it really is — the foulest of all theologians' artifices, aimed at making mankind responsible in their sense, that is, dependent upon them. Here I simply supply the psychology of all making responsible.

Short-sighted people are amorous. Sometimes just a stronger pair of glasses will cure an amorous man; and if someone had the power to imagine a face or form twenty years older, he might go through life quite undisturbed.

Behind thy thoughts and feelings, my brother, there is a mighty lord, an unknown sage—it is called Self; it dwelleth in thy body, it is thy body.

The concept 'beyond', 'true world' invented in order to devalue the only world there is—in order to retain no goal, no reason, no task for our earthly reality!

The Church and morality say: 'A race, a people perishes through vice and luxury'. My restored reason says: when a people is perishing, degenerating physiologically, vice and luxury (that is to say the necessity for stronger and stronger and more and more frequent stimulants, such as every exhausted nature is acquainted with) follow therefrom.

There are on the earth many good inventions, some useful, some pleasant: for their sake is the earth to be loved. And many such good inventions are there, that they are like woman's breasts: useful at the same time, and pleasant.

there are on the earth many good inventions, some useful, some pleasant: for their sake is the earth to be loved. and many such good inventions are there, that they are like woman's breasts: useful and at the same time, pleasant

O meu gosto, que é provavelmente a antítese de um gosto tolerante, está longe de o poder aprovar na totalidade: em geral, aprovar não está nos meus hábitos, prefiro contradizer ou até não dizer absolutamente nada... É o que eu faço em relação a culturas inteiras, em relação a livros,- e também a cidades e paisagens.

Unconditional love also includes—the ardent desire to be abused: at that point it is a defiance directed against itself, and out of its devotion the very wish for self-annihilation finally arises: Drown in this sea!

Every error, of whatever kind, is a consequence of degeneration of instinct, disgregation of will: one has thereby virtually defined the bad. Everything good is instinct – and consequently easy, necessary, free. Effort is an objection, the god is typically distinguished from the hero (in my language: light feet are the first attribute of divinity).

The root of all evil: the slavish morality of meekness, chastity, selflessness, absolute obedience, has triumphed — ruling natures were thus condemned, to hypocrisy, to torments of conscience. The best things have been slandered because the weak or the immoderate swine have cast a bad light on them — and the best men have remained hidden — and have often misunderstood themselves.

he who hears only a Will to Truth in the background, and nothing else, cannot certainly boast of the sharpest ears.

Attacking is with me a proof of good will, and, on occasion, of gratitude.

God is a conjecture: but I do not wish your conjecturing to reach beyond your creating will. Could ye CREATE a God?—Then, I pray you, be silent about all Gods! But ye could well create the Superman.

Human society: it is an experiment, this I teach — a long search: but it searches for the commander! — an experiment, oh my brothers! And not a "contract"!

thus do I counsel you, my friends: distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful! [...] out of their countenances peer the hangman and the sleuth-hound. Distrust all those who talk much of their justice!

if you therefore want to depress and minimise man's capacity for pain, well, you must also depress and minimise his capacity for enjoyment.

Is not wounded vanity the mother of all tragedies?

It is true: we love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving. There is always a certain madness in love. But also there is always a certain method in madness.

We uproot the foundation of morality when we uproot boundary-stones.