Thursday, May 16, 2013

Friedrich Nietzsche: excerpts from "The Will to Power"


Excerpts on The Will to Power
from various books by Friedrich Nietzsche
THE GAY SCIENCE (1882)
13.
On the doctrine of the feeling of power.— Benefiting and hurting others are ways of exercising one's power upon others—that is all one desires in such cases! One hurts those whom one wants to feel one's power; for pain is a much more efficient means to that end than pleasure:—pain always raises the question about its origin while pleasure is inclined to stop with itself without looking back. We benefit and show benevolence to those who are already dependent on us in some way (which means that they are used to thinking of us as causes); we want to increase their power because in that way we increase ours, or we want to show them how advantageous it is to be in our power—that way they will become more satisfied with their condition and more hostile to and willing to fight against the enemies of our power. Whether benefiting or hurting others involves sacrifices for us does not affect the ultimate value of our actions; even if we offer our lives, as martyrs do for their church, this is a sacrifice that is offered for our desire for power or for the purpose of preserving our feeling of power. Those who feel "I possess Truth"—how many possessions would they not abandon in order to save this feeling! What would they not throw overboard to stay "on top"—which means, above the others who lack "the Truth"!
56.
The craving for suffering.— When I think of the craving to do something, which continually tickles and spurs those millions of young Europeans who cannot endure their boredom and themselves,—then I realize that they must have a craving to suffer and to find in their suffering a probable reason for action, for deeds. Neediness is needed!

163.
After a great victory.— What is best about a great victory is that it liberates the victor from the fear of defeat. "Why not be defeated some time, too?"—he says to himself: "Now I am rich enough for that."

268.
What makes one heroic?— Going out to meet at the same time one's highest suffering and one's highest hope.

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