In the shadow of a crumbling age, where decadence has become the guiding star of a people enthralled by the narcotic allure of pleasure and the hollow clamor for recognition, there remains a call—a call to arms, if one listens closely enough—to embrace virtue with a severity beyond mere affection.
There is one error here that many are apt to make, however. Nietzche admonished against it in BGE:
"Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority—where he may forget "men who are the rule," as their exception;—exclusive only of the case in which he is pushed straight to such men by a still stronger instinct, as a discerner in the great and exceptional sense. Whoever, in intercourse with men, does not occasionally glisten in all the green and grey colours of distress, owing to disgust, satiety, sympathy, gloominess, and solitariness, is assuredly not a man of elevated tastes; supposing, however, that he does not voluntarily take all this burden and disgust upon himself, that he persistently avoids it, and remains, as I said, quietly and proudly hidden in his citadel, one thing is then certain: he was not made, he was not predestined for knowledge. For as such, he would one day have to say to himself: "The devil take my good taste! but 'the rule' is more interesting than the exception—than myself, the exception!" And he would go DOWN, and above all, he would go "inside." The long and serious study of the AVERAGE man—and consequently much disguise, self-overcoming, familiarity, and bad intercourse (all intercourse is bad intercourse except with one's equals):—that constitutes a necessary part of the life-history of every philosopher; perhaps the most disagreeable, odious, and disappointing part."
Hear Hear, Bravo 👏
Thanks for reading as always Lauren
This essay read like a Psalm. I am renewed by its message. Thank you as ever for your brilliance.
Thanks Bonnie much appreciated
In complete harmony now. Ahh, what beautiful prose, thank you. Thank you for saying all that OUT LOUD. ❤️
Thank you Giorgio!
I am in awe. Beautiful and powerful. Thanks!
I’m flattered to hear, thank you.
This is some of the best writing ..
Thanks Mucheal
Wow! As I am learning to live my solitude life in an active defiance of herd mentality, this clarifies a lot. Thank you!
Thanks for reading Dev!
Yes!
Great art, my man.
There is one error here that many are apt to make, however. Nietzche admonished against it in BGE:
"Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority—where he may forget "men who are the rule," as their exception;—exclusive only of the case in which he is pushed straight to such men by a still stronger instinct, as a discerner in the great and exceptional sense. Whoever, in intercourse with men, does not occasionally glisten in all the green and grey colours of distress, owing to disgust, satiety, sympathy, gloominess, and solitariness, is assuredly not a man of elevated tastes; supposing, however, that he does not voluntarily take all this burden and disgust upon himself, that he persistently avoids it, and remains, as I said, quietly and proudly hidden in his citadel, one thing is then certain: he was not made, he was not predestined for knowledge. For as such, he would one day have to say to himself: "The devil take my good taste! but 'the rule' is more interesting than the exception—than myself, the exception!" And he would go DOWN, and above all, he would go "inside." The long and serious study of the AVERAGE man—and consequently much disguise, self-overcoming, familiarity, and bad intercourse (all intercourse is bad intercourse except with one's equals):—that constitutes a necessary part of the life-history of every philosopher; perhaps the most disagreeable, odious, and disappointing part."