Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19th century European thinker, would have exhausted the possibilities of Twitter. Not to reach the masses with his Zarathustra spoke of him, but because of his aphoristic writing style, that is, his way of presenting philosophy in phrases of condensed thought.
For existential crises or the struggle to make sense of the liquid age we are going through, Nietzsche’s aphorisms can underpin the tribulations that everyone goes through in dealing with knowledge and ideologies.
1. What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger (The decline of the idols, 1888).
From this principle comes the development of the psyche and character. Experiences do not have to be self-congratulatory or pleasurable to teach us. Suffering is usually what gives meaning to our lives.
2. He who fights with the monster should guard against becoming one. When you look for a long time into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you. (Beyond Good and Evil, 1886).
Sometimes, with the idea of fighting evil, you end up becoming something worse… Wars have been fought for the “good” of someone else or to eradicate “evil.” Fascism arose because of someone who identified the Jews as monsters, and Hitler became one of the most feared monsters.
3. What is done for love is done beyond good or evil (Beyond Good and Evil, 1886).
The motivation of love leads to doing things that would otherwise never be considered.
4. There is always some madness in love, but there is always some reason in madness (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, 1891).
Similar to the previous quote, the paradox that sometimes there are crazy people who are saner than the supposedly not crazy people.
5. Men do not strive for happiness, only the English do. (The decline of the idols, 1888).
For Nietzsche, seeking hedonistic pleasure above pain would lead to banality.
6. Some are born posthumously (The Antichrist, 1895).
Perhaps our era will be better understood posthumously, just as not everyone understood the German philosopher in his time.
7. The secret to cultivating the most fruitful and joyful existence is to live dangerously. Build your cities at the foot of Vesuvius! (The Gay Science, 1882).
Living next to a , living aware of mortality and awareness of danger is more reasonable than a comfortable life.
8. If a temple is to be built, it must also be torn down (Genealogy of morals, 1887).
Nietzsche wanted to found a new system of values; To do this, he believed, it was necessary to overthrow the beliefs on which the European continent had been built.
9. The word Christianity is a mistake, there was only one Christian and he died on the cross (The Antichrist, 1895).
Critical of Christianity, but reflective about the character of Jesus.
10. There are no facts, only interpretations (The Portable Nietzsche, 1954).
There are no metaphysical truths, there is a long series of subjectivities and values… Every perspective is valid; none is better or worse.
11. The surest way to corrupt young people is to tell them to hold those who think like them in higher esteem than those who think differently. (The dawn. Reflections on moral prejudices, 1881).
He defended free thinkers and questioned the masses. This is one of the manifestos that proves it.
12. In the world there is a path that only you can take, where does it take you? -Don’t ask, follow him! (Ultimate Meditations, Schopenhauer as an educator, 1874).
Existentialist philosophy was not studied, it was lived. This was what the German writer proposed.
13. Plato is boring (The decline of the idols, 1888).
The truth is not told in words.
14. There are two great European narcotics, alcohol and Christianity (The Antichrist, 1895).
These “narcotics” evade you from your own life.
15. Become who you are! (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, 1891).
That is, one must fight against one’s own animal impulses, making humanity’s potential emerge. Without a doubt, this is a daring proposal from Nietzsche.