Comments on: Book Review: Thus Spoke Zarathustra http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/ Science. Humanism. Atheism. Politics. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:46:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: dionysus http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-28243 dionysus Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:46:19 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-28243 Frank Bellamy... no offence, but if Thus Spoke Zarathustra is incomprehensible, then it is certainly, without a shred of doubt, your own lack of knowledge as a reader that makes it so. Nietzsche a bad writer? He is considered one of the greatest in German, indeed, one of the best prose stylists in any language - 'Ecce Homo' is probably the summit of his art, but almost all of his works are among the most ridiculously well-written literature we have. Zarathustra is singular, he wrote nothing else like it, but the idea it is badly written is absurd: Nietzsche here wrote at a high level of inspiration, the verbal wizardry of Zarathustra, even translated, is condensed genius... virtuoso poetical imagery and significant, ground-breaking philosophy are actually entwined to a mind-boggling degree.'The Seven Seals' at the end of Part Three is poetry of the highest order - the book actually abounds with passion and unforgettable turns of phrase - it is monumental, heart-breaking stuff. But Nietzsche did not intend it to be a popular work, easily digested by anyone... it takes study and a good awareness of intellectual context to get the most out of it, it is for willing students, not for the casual reader. Every section in this book is the suffering of an incredible mind, it is supremely intense and meaningful... it can be beautiful, and it often is - but this isn't light entertainment. Nietzsche was intentionally vague and obsure, he made his works difficult to penetrate as a matter of principle. Zarathustra is the definitive example of that; you almost have to live with it, beside his philosophy itself, in order to fathom it and therefore truly appreciate it. Relevant quote from the book, section: 'Of Reading and Writing' - 'I no longer feel as you do... this dark cloud beneath me, this blackness and heaviness at which I laugh - precisely that is your thunder-cloud. You look up, when you desire to be exalted... and I look down, because I am exalted. Who among you can at the same time laugh and be exalted? He who climbs on the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary. Untroubled, scornful, outrageous: that is how wisdom wants us to be. She is a women, and never loves anyone but a warrior.' Frank Bellamy… no offence, but if Thus Spoke Zarathustra is incomprehensible, then it is certainly, without a shred of doubt, your own lack of knowledge as a reader that makes it so. Nietzsche a bad writer? He is considered one of the greatest in German, indeed, one of the best prose stylists in any language – ‘Ecce Homo’ is probably the summit of his art, but almost all of his works are among the most ridiculously well-written literature we have. Zarathustra is singular, he wrote nothing else like it, but the idea it is badly written is absurd: Nietzsche here wrote at a high level of inspiration, the verbal wizardry of Zarathustra, even translated, is condensed genius… virtuoso poetical imagery and significant, ground-breaking philosophy are actually entwined to a mind-boggling degree.’The Seven Seals’ at the end of Part Three is poetry of the highest order – the book actually abounds with passion and unforgettable turns of phrase – it is monumental, heart-breaking stuff. But Nietzsche did not intend it to be a popular work, easily digested by anyone… it takes study and a good awareness of intellectual context to get the most out of it, it is for willing students, not for the casual reader. Every section in this book is the suffering of an incredible mind, it is supremely intense and meaningful… it can be beautiful, and it often is – but this isn’t light entertainment. Nietzsche was intentionally vague and obsure, he made his works difficult to penetrate as a matter of principle. Zarathustra is the definitive example of that; you almost have to live with it, beside his philosophy itself, in order to fathom it and therefore truly appreciate it.

Relevant quote from the book, section: ‘Of Reading and Writing’ – ‘I no longer feel as you do… this dark cloud beneath me, this blackness and heaviness at which I laugh – precisely that is your thunder-cloud. You look up, when you desire to be exalted… and I look down, because I am exalted. Who among you can at the same time laugh and be exalted? He who climbs on the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary. Untroubled, scornful, outrageous: that is how wisdom wants us to be. She is a women, and never loves anyone but a warrior.’

]]> By: Stephanie http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-1952 Stephanie Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:54:15 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-1952 What page did you find this quote on? "“Where Zarathustra cannot find something to love, there he will pass by.” What page did you find this quote on? ““Where Zarathustra cannot find something to love, there he will pass by.”

]]> By: Madoc http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Madoc Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:11:54 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-218 Please correct your spelling. It's "Nietzsche" and "Übermensch". And, by the way, "overman" would be a bad translation for "Übermensch". "Superhuman" would be better. Please correct your spelling. It’s “Nietzsche” and “Übermensch”.

And, by the way, “overman” would be a bad translation for “Übermensch”. “Superhuman” would be better.

]]> By: Bronstein http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Bronstein Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:54:32 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-214 However, his book, the AntiChrist is even better! "Elimination of the weak and defective, the first principle of our philosophy! And we should help them to do it!" And, "What is more harmful than any vice? Sympathy for the weak and defective, Christianity!" From Section 2 Its time for atheists to have the guts to say what they really think of the Christians! However, his book, the AntiChrist is even better!

“Elimination of the weak and defective, the first principle of our philosophy! And we should help them to do it!”

And, “What is more harmful than any vice? Sympathy for the weak and defective, Christianity!”

From Section 2

Its time for atheists to have the guts to say what they really think of the Christians!

]]> By: Bronstein http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-213 Bronstein Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:51:17 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-213 I love this book! He real tells you how to deal with manipulating women! "Goest thou to women! Do not forget thy whip!" Chapter 18 I love this book!

He real tells you how to deal with manipulating women!

“Goest thou to women! Do not forget thy whip!” Chapter 18

]]> By: DS http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-206 DS Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:57:53 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-206 I agree, twilight of the idols is a much easier read and more clearly a summary of his ideas. Zarathustra was poetic, but nearly incomprehensible. I agree, twilight of the idols is a much easier read and more clearly a summary of his ideas. Zarathustra was poetic, but nearly incomprehensible.

]]> By: Frank Bellamy http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Frank Bellamy Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:59:20 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-191 I tried to read this book for a class once. It was awful, terribly written. It might as well have been in the original German for all I got out of it. Someone else's summary of Nietzsche's philosophy might be worth reading, but Nietzsche simply lacked (or chose not to exercise) the ability to put together a comprehensible sentence. I tried to read this book for a class once. It was awful, terribly written. It might as well have been in the original German for all I got out of it. Someone else’s summary of Nietzsche’s philosophy might be worth reading, but Nietzsche simply lacked (or chose not to exercise) the ability to put together a comprehensible sentence.

]]> By: Mark Mattern http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Mark Mattern Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:41:56 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-178 Actually the correct translation of Übermesnch is 'Overman.' Actually the correct translation of Übermesnch is ‘Overman.’

]]> By: Tyler Handley http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Tyler Handley Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:31:20 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-150 "that which does not kill me only makes me stronger." Isn't that the great Kanye West? “that which does not kill me only makes me stronger.” Isn’t that the great Kanye West?

]]> By: Joe http://factonista.org/2008/08/21/book-review-thus-spoke-zarasuthra/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Joe Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:50:19 +0000 http://theedger.org/?p=594#comment-148 "Twilight of the Idols' is a great introduction to Nietzsche's philosophy, I haven't yet attempted Zarathustra... the bible comparison was apt. “Twilight of the Idols’ is a great introduction to Nietzsche’s philosophy, I haven’t yet attempted Zarathustra… the bible comparison was apt.

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