Posted by alexandra_k on November 2, 2005, at 18:03:04
In reply to Yo,Dr.Bob.Sup/your home page link eh?, posted by muffled on November 2, 2005, at 11:55:04
> That writer guy is creeping me out. Why do you associate yourself w/him? Can you please tell me. Its bothering me alot.
I might be wrong but I think...
He just liked the quote so was providing a link to where the original quote appeared in context:> Agreed that I am a decadent, I am also the very reverse. Among other things there is this proof: I always instinctively select the proper remedy in preference to harmful ones; whereas the decadent, as such, invariably chooses those remedies which are bad for him. As a whole I was healthy, but in certain details I was a decadent. The energy with which I forced myself to absolute solitude, and to an alienation from my customary habits of life; the self-discipline that forbade me to be pampered, waited on, and doctored-all this betrays the absolute certainty of my instincts in regard to what at that time was most needful to me. I placed myself in my own hands, I restored myself to health: to do this, the first condition of success, as every physiologist will admit, is that the man be basically sound. A typically morbid nature cannot become healthy at all, much less by his own efforts. On the other hand, to an intrinsically sound nature, illness may even act as a powerful stimulus to life, to an abundance of life. It is thus that I now regard my long period of illness: it seemed then as if I had discovered life afresh, my own self included. I tasted all/ good and even trifling things in a way in which others could not very well taste them-out of my Will to Health and to Life I made my philosophy. . . . For I wish this to be understood; it was during those, years of most lowered vitality that I ceased from being a pessimist: the instinct of self-recovery bade a philosophy of poverty and desperation. Now, how are we to recognize Nature's most excellent human products? They are recognized by the fact that an excellent man of this sort gladdens our senses; he is carved from a single block, which is hard, sweet, and fragrant. He enjoys only what is good for him; his pleasure, his desire, ceases when the limits of what is good for him are overstepped. He divines remedies against injuries; he knows how to turn serious accidents to his own advantage; whatever does not kill him makes him stronger. He instinctively gathers his material from all he sees, hears, and experiences. He is a selective principle; he rejects much. He is always in his own company, whether his intercourse be with books, men or natural scenery; he honors the things he chooses, the things he acknowledges, the thing7s he trusts. He reacts slowly to all kinds of stimuli, with that tardiness which long caution and deliberate pride have bred in him-he tests the approaching stimulus - would not think of going toward it. He believes in neither "ill-fortune" nor "guilt"; he can digest himself and others; he knows how to forget-he is strong enough to make everything turn to his own advantage.
Isn't that something to aspire to?
And isn't it just a little bit true in the sense that we are still here?Nietzche said 'truth is a whore' at one point... He could be fairly sexist. But then... The bible can be seen as fairly sexist too. And yeah, he was fairly hostile to christianity. But then Jesus was fairly hostile to Judaism and so it goes on...
William Blake was a poet who wrote about 'the marriage of heaven and hell' and various other things that could have him interpreted as being a handmaiden for satan at times... I think one needs to appreciate something of the context...
I don't know very much about him...
I don't study that style of philosophy.
More poetry than philosophy.
More self-expression than making claims that are supposed to be objectively / intersubjectively assessed for truth.
More self expression than furthering knowledge...
Or something.
I dunno.But he is an interesting figure.
He deteriorated rather in his later years and ended up killing himself.Lest we forget...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:574521
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20051013/msgs/574643.html