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100 Top Quotes By Friedrich Nietzsche That Smash Popular Notions

Famous As: German Philosopher, Cultural Critic and Philologist
Born On: October 15, 1844
Died On: August 25, 1900
Born In: Röcken, Lützen, Germany
Died At Age: 55

Friedrich Nietzsche was one a German classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture who went on to become one of the most influential of all modern thinkers. Nietzsche rose to fame for his writings on good and evil, the end of religion in modern society and the concept of a ‘super-man’. His writings on individuality and morality in contemporary civilization influenced many thinkers and writers of the 20th century. Though Nietzsche career spanned briefly, he published numerous works in philosophy in the short duration, two of the most prominent of which include ‘Twilight of the Idols’ and ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’.  In his work, Nietzsche attempted to unmask the motives that underlie traditional Western religion, morality and philosophy that has deeply affected generations of theologians, philosophers, psychologists, poets, novelists, and playwrights. This probably is the reason as to why his work has exerted a profound influence on Western philosophy and modern intellectual history. Nietzsche's body of writing spanned across philosophical polemics, poetry, cultural criticism, and fiction, and drew widely on art, philology, history, religion, and science. The same can also be seen in his quotes that touch all the aforementioned genres and give readers a new perspective from which to look at. Listed below are some of the top quotes by Friedrich Nietzsche.

Without music, life would be a mistake.

Without music, life would be a mistake.

Friedrich Nietzsche
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.

It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.

Friedrich Nietzsche
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger.

Friedrich Nietzsche
I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.

I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.

Friedrich Nietzsche
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.

Friedrich Nietzsche
It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!

It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!

Friedrich Nietzsche
There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.

There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.

Friedrich Nietzsche
You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

Friedrich Nietzsche
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.

Friedrich Nietzsche
You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.

You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.

Friedrich Nietzsche
In heaven, all the interesting people are missing.

In heaven, all the interesting people are missing.

Friedrich Nietzsche
Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.

Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.

Friedrich Nietzsche
There are no facts, only interpretations.

There are no facts, only interpretations.

Friedrich Nietzsche
We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.

Friedrich Nietzsche
The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.

The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.

Friedrich Nietzsche
I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.

I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.

Friedrich Nietzsche
He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.

Friedrich Nietzsche
No one can construct for you the bridge upon which precisely you must cross the stream of life, no one but you yourself alone.

No one can construct for you the bridge upon which precisely you must cross the stream of life, no one but you yourself alone.

Friedrich Nietzsche
When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago.

When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago.

Friedrich Nietzsche
The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die. As well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind.

The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die. As well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind.

Friedrich Nietzsche
In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.

In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.

Friedrich Nietzsche
The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.

The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.

Friedrich Nietzsche
Man is the cruelest animal.

Man is the cruelest animal.

Friedrich Nietzsche
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.

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.

Friedrich Nietzsche
Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man?

Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man?

Friedrich Nietzsche
Every deep thinker is more afraid of being understood than of being misunderstood.

Every deep thinker is more afraid of being understood than of being misunderstood.

Friedrich Nietzsche
Thoughts are the shadows of our feelings -- always darker, emptier and simpler.

Thoughts are the shadows of our feelings -- always darker, emptier and simpler.

Friedrich Nietzsche
Faith: not wanting to know what the truth is.

Faith: not wanting to know what the truth is.

Friedrich Nietzsche
I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.

I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.

Friedrich Nietzsche
The thought of suicide is a great consolation: by means of it one gets through many a dark night.

The thought of suicide is a great consolation: by means of it one gets through many a dark night.

Friedrich Nietzsche