Dreams Quote by Friedrich Nietzsche
““Let us imagine a coming generation with such intrepidity of vision, with such a heroic penchant for the tremendous; let us imagine the bold stride of these dragon-slayers, the proud audacity with which they turn their back on all the weakling's doctrines of optimism in order to 'live resolutely' in wholeness and fullness: would it not be necessary for the tragic man of such a culture, in view of his self-education for seriousness and terror, to desire a new art, the art of metaphysical comfort , to desire tragedy as his own proper Helen, and to exclaim with Faust: Should not my longing overleap the distance And draw the fairest form into existence?" "Would it not be necessary?"--No, thrice no! O you young romantics: it would not be necessary! But it is highly probably that it will end that way, that you end that way--namely, "comforted," as it is written, in spite of all self-education for seriousness and terror, "comforted metaphysically"--in sum, as romantics end, as Christians .””
About This Quote
Source Book: Thus Spoke Zarathustra, 1883
Nietzsche urges a future generation to reject timid optimism and embrace bold, tragic art that confronts existential terror, seeking metaphysical comfort through creative tragedy.
In simple terms: Reject timid optimism; embrace bold tragic art.
Create meaning through confronting terror.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- philosophical discourse
- personal growth
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true comfort look like without tragedy?
- Can boldness coexist with empathy?
The call for heroic tragedy may ignore the value of humility and compassion.