MARCH 26, 2021
I have lived just long enough to read and understand a few of the so-called “experts” in the world. Whether a scientist, journalist, politician, economist, business owner, or preacher, many of these individuals are touted and emulated by their genius, intellect and showmanship. (Why?) Many of these individuals who obtain World-wide awards for being woke, for running around with “the In-crowd,” for having their BIG ME’s stroked and coddled with their every move, are looked upon in awe by the masses. (or at least half of the population)
With our present civilization trying to rewrite history, I wanted to go back and read what other so-called experts in their fields had to say about life in years past. (Context) Since my interest is in “History, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, (plus Philosophy and Psychology),” I turned to Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher, Greek scholar, cultural critic, poet, and philologist (I had to look that one up. It means; the study of language in oral and written historical sources; it is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history and linguistics.). Before pursuing a career in philosophy, Nietzsche became the youngest person to ever hold the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel in 1869 at the ripe old age of 24. The history books say he went mad the last eleven years of his life and died at 55. I am surprised they didn’t eliminate him from the history books based on his quotes. (or madness) Fortunately, he lived in a “Free” country at the time where most points of view were respected and tolerated.
I am not going to bore you with all of Nietzsche’s famous quotes but would encourage you to check them out for yourself. I had heard a few of them and had not realized that “this was our guy” who gave us these quotes. Some of his famous quotes were:
- “He who laughs last, laughs best.” (Laughing is great medicine)
- “The lie is a condition of life.” (Duh!)
- “That which does not kill us; makes us stronger.” (I get it)
I am going to include a few more quotes that I enjoyed to peak your interest, as our country is faced with an identity crisis at the moment.
- “He who has a WHY to live can bear almost any HOW” (I know I am shouting at you but we all need to hear. What is your WHY?))
- “We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.” (I love that he understood “loving life”)
- “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that make unhappy marriages.” (Make your spouse your best friend)
- “Distrust everyone in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.” (Too much of this going on today)
- “To make the individual uncomfortable, that is my task.” (If you are too comfortable you will not grow as a person. Be happy when things are uncomfortable. “Amor Fati”)
- “The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem, those who think alike than those who think differently.” (Think for yourself but don’t wait too long or you will miss the opportunity)
- “A matter that becomes clear ceases to concern us.” (Learning and finding out “who we really are” will make life more serene)
- “To live is to suffer; to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” (We all suffer in many ways. So, “Amor Fati”)
Go check out Friedrich Nietzsche and what he believed without all of the distractions of technology and societal norms. He may have been mad in his times but he may have understood life better than most of us. Try not to be cynical. Just be curious.
Elevator Guy