--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The projection of one's feeling toward…" description: "\"“The projection of one's feeling toward oneself upon a cosmic scale may seem to hinge on a metaphysical premise, but it can be defended empirically. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/617/walter-kaufmann-14133_nietzsche_the-projection-of-one-s-feeling-toward-o_2081900.png" --- # The projection of one's feeling toward oneself upon a… ![“The projection of one's feeling toward oneself upon a cosmic scale may seem to hinge on a metaphysical premise, but it can be defended empirically. That I am here, now, doing this - that depends on an awe-inspiring series of antecedent events, on millions of seemingly accidental moves and…” quote by Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/617/walter-kaufmann-14133_nietzsche_the-projection-of-one-s-feeling-toward-o_2081900.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/617/walter-kaufmann-14133_nietzsche_the-projection-of-one-s-feeling-toward-o_2081900.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/617/walter-kaufmann-14133_nietzsche_the-projection-of-one-s-feeling-toward-o_2081900.png) > ““The projection of one's feeling toward oneself upon a cosmic scale may seem to hinge on a metaphysical premise, but it can be defended empirically. That I am here, now, doing this - that depends on an awe-inspiring series of antecedent events, on millions of seemingly accidental moves and decisions, both by myself and many others whose moves and decisions in turn depended on yet other people. And our very existence, our being as we are, required that our parents had to choose each other, not anyone else, and beget us at the precise moment when we were actually begotten; and the same consideration applies to their parents, and to all our ancestors, going back indefinitely. Thus any affirmation of the present moment points far beyond the present - and it is a significant psychological corollary, on which Nietzsche frequently insists, that those who are dissatisfied with themselves usually project their dissatisfaction upon the world.”” [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that our sense of self and purpose is linked to a vast chain of events and relationships, extending beyond the present moment. **In simple terms:** Our identity depends on many past actions and connections. Key Takeaway Recognize the interconnectedness of existence. Themes existentialism interconnectedness self-awareness Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - mindfulness - historical perspective Key Concepts philosophy psychology genealogy Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing yourself as part of a larger chain affect responsibility? - Can this perspective reduce self-criticism? 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Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“The phrase “slow reading” goes back at least as far as the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who in 1887 described himself as a “teacher of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-phrase-slow-reading-goes-back-at-least-as-far-as-the-philosopher/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nietzsche's ideas and plans: for example, the idea of giving up the whole wretched academic world to form a secular monastic community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/nietzsche-s-ideas-and-plans-for-example-the-idea-of-giving-up-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [ “In good company one must never want to be entirely and solely right, which is what all pure logic wants \[...\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-good-company-one-must-never-want-to-be-entirely-and-solely-right/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Virtually all letter writers confessed how their encounter with Nietzsche's philosophy either emboldened or chastened them, liberated them from old falsehoods, or saddled them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ratner-rosenhagen/virtually-all-letter-writers-confessed-how-their-encounter-with/) [Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ratner-rosenhagen/) ## More by Walter Kaufmann > [Life ceases to be so oppressive: we are free to give our own lives meaning and purpose, free to redeem our suffering by making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/life-ceases-to-be-so-oppressive-we-are-free-to-give-our-own-lives/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [Thirdly, even if we assume that the world is governed by purpose, we need only add that this purpose - or, if there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/thirdly-even-if-we-assume-that-the-world-is-governed-by-purpose-we/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [Mundus vult decipi: the world wants to be deceived. The truth is too complex and frightening; the taste for the truth is an acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/mundus-vult-decipi-the-world-wants-to-be-deceived-the-truth-is-too/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [It is widely assumed, contrary to fact, that theism necessarily involves the two assumptions which cannot be squared with the existence of so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/it-is-widely-assumed-contrary-to-fact-that-theism-necessarily/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [The refusal to belong to any school of thought, the repudiation of the adequacy of any body of beliefs whatever, and especially of systems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-refusal-to-belong-to-any-school-of-thought-the-repudiation-of-the/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“One need not believe in Pallas Athena, the virgin goddess, to be overwhelmed by the Parthenon. Similarly, a man who rejects all dogmas, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/one-need-not-believe-in-pallas-athena-the-virgin-goddess-to-be/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [In all three cases, and for most human beings, the problem of suffering poses no difficult problem at all: one has a world picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/in-all-three-cases-and-for-most-human-beings-the-problem-of-suffering/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [The only theism worthy of our respect believes in God not because of the way the world is made but in spite of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-only-theism-worthy-of-our-respect-believes-in-god-not-because-of/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [The deepest difference between religions is not that between polytheism and monotheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-deepest-difference-between-religions-is-not-that-between/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [Job's forthright indictment of the injustice of this world is surely right. 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Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Nietzsche is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/god/nietzsche-is-dead/) [GOD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/god/) > [I read a book lately by Nietzsche and he says religion is just to dull the senses of the people. I agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/i-read-a-book-lately-by-nietzsche-and-he-says-religion-is-just-to/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [“It took just such evil and painful things for the great emancipation to occur,” Nietzsche said. He is also the one who said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-richo/it-took-just-such-evil-and-painful-things-for-the-great-emancipation/) [David Richo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-richo/) > [“We believe, as Nietzsche put it, that 'higher is not allowed to grow out of the lower, is not allowed to have grown at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-believe-as-nietzsche-put-it-that-higher-is-not-allowed-to-grow-out/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“We are unknown to ourselves, we men of knowledge--and with good reason. We have never sought ourselves--how could it happen that we should ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-are-unknown-to-ourselves-we-men-of-knowledge-and-with-good-reason/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“In the second Unzeitgemäße Betrachtung Nietzsche speaks about “individuals who form a kind of bridge over the wild stream of becoming” and live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-meier/in-the-second-unzeitgema-e-betrachtung-nietzsche-speaks-about/) [Heinrich Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-meier/) > [I hate actors who come and quote Nietzsche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-hate-actors-who-come-and-quote-nietzsche/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [Nietzsche famously said, 'Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' What he failed to stress is that it ALMOST kills you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nietzsche-famously-said-whatever-doesn-t-kill-you-makes-you-stronger/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ \[Friedrich\] Nietzsche said something marvellous, he said "Madness is not a consequence of uncertainty but of certainty", and this is fanaticism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/friedrich-nietzsche-said-something-marvellous-he-said-madness-is-not/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“Since I was in flight from religion, I assumed that my classmates had to be in flight from religion too, albeit in a quieter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/since-i-was-in-flight-from-religion-i-assumed-that-my-classmates-had/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) [Browse all 378 Nietzsche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nietzsche/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The projection of one's feeling toward oneself upon a cosmic scale may seem to hinge on a metaphysical premise, but it can be defended empirically. That I am here, now, doing this - that depends on an awe-inspiring series of antecedent events, on millions of seemingly accidental moves and decisions, both by myself and many others whose moves and decisions in turn depended on yet other people. And our very existence, our being as we are, required that our parents had to choose each other, not anyone else, and beget us at the precise moment when we were actually begotten; and the same consideration applies to their parents, and to all our ancestors, going back indefinitely. 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