Books Quote by Friedrich Nietzsche
““Twofold misjudgement. - The misfortune suffered by clear-minded and easily understood writers is that they are taken for shallow and thus little effort is expended on reading them: and the good fortune that attends the obscure is that the reader toils at them and ascribes to them the pleasure he has in fact gained from his own zeal.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Untimely Meditations, 1876
Nietzsche critiques that clear writers are dismissed as shallow while obscure writers demand effort, yet both yield pleasure through the reader’s own zeal.
In simple terms: Both clear and obscure works can be rewarding, depending on reader effort.
Key Takeaway
Engage deeply with any text.
Themes
literature
perception
reading
interpretation
intellectual effort
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reading
- book clubs
- critical essays
Key Concepts
Aesthetic theory
epistemology
reader response
Questions to Reflect On
- How does effort change your appreciation of a text?
- Do you value clarity over depth?
A Different Perspective
Obscure works may alienate readers lacking patience.
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