--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nihilism is…not only the belief that…" description: "\"“Nihilism is…not only the belief that everything deserves to perish; but one actually puts one shoulder to the plough; one destroys.”\" — Friedrich Niet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_nihilism-is-not-only-the-belief-that-eve_983910.jpg" --- # Nihilism is…not only the belief that everything deserves… ![“Nihilism is…not only the belief that everything deserves to perish; but one actually puts one shoulder to the plough; one destroys.” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_nihilism-is-not-only-the-belief-that-eve_983910.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_nihilism-is-not-only-the-belief-that-eve_983910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_nihilism-is-not-only-the-belief-that-eve_983910.jpg) > ““Nihilism is…not only the belief that everything deserves to perish; but one actually puts one shoulder to the plough; one destroys.”” [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nihilism rejects inherent value, yet urges active destruction of meaning to create new purpose. **In simple terms:** Rejecting meaning, yet act to destroy and rebuild. Key Takeaway Embrace destruction as a path to creation. Themes nihilism destruction creation existentialism Mood defiant introspective Type philosophical provocative When to use this quote - personal crisis - artistic rebellion - philosophical writing - social upheaval Key Concepts Will to power revaluation of values Questions to Reflect On - What can you create from the void? - How does destruction serve growth? A Different Perspective May lead to nihilistic despair without constructive direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Deserves Perish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserves-perish-1969733/) [Existentialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existentialism/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Nihilism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nihilism/) [Nihilism Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nihilism-belief-1969732/) [Perish Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perish-actually-1969735/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Plough Destroys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plough-destroys-1969734/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/) ## Related quotes > [“Every state in which anyone other than the statesman has to concern himself with politics is ill organized and deserves to perish by all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-state-in-which-anyone-other-than-the-statesman-has-to-concern/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Nihilism: any aim is lacking, any answer to the question "why" is lacking. What does nihilism mean?--that the supreme values devaluate themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/nihilism-any-aim-is-lacking-any-answer-to-the-question-why-is-lacking/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The man of the future who will redeem us not only from the hitherto reigning ideal but also from that which was bound to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-man-of-the-future-who-will-redeem-us-not-only-from-the-hitherto/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [That is the most extreme form of nihilism: nothingness (the "meaningless") eternally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/that-is-the-most-extreme-form-of-nihilism-nothingness-the-meaningless/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Are there any good arguments in defence of moral nihilism? I think not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/are-there-any-good-arguments-in-defence-of-moral-nihilism-i-think-not/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [“...not positive about the definition of existentialism but it seems like the opposite of nihilism in which case I suppose I may be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn/not-positive-about-the-definition-of-existentialism-but-it-seems-like/) [Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn/) > [But why should a religious person be interested in a work like Heidegger's that many regard as the epitome of nihilism? 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Made over to fit my unique view of what should be. Let Nihilism reign supreme!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/the-universe-will-now-be-set-right-made-over-to-fit-my-unique-view-of/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [When it comes to explaining human thought and behavior, the possibility that heredity plays any role at all still has the power to shock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/when-it-comes-to-explaining-human-thought-and-behavior-the/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [If critics and fanboys weren't suckers for simplistic nihilism and high-pressure marketing, Afterlife would be universally acclaimed as a visionary feat, superior to Inception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armond-white/if-critics-and-fanboys-weren-t-suckers-for-simplistic-nihilism-and/) [Armond White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armond-white/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) ## More by Friedrich Nietzsche > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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