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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