We Philologists - Complete Works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Volume 8 by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
page 72 of 94 (76%)
page 72 of 94 (76%)
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down by success gradually rears itself up: history as the scorn of the
conqueror; a servile sentiment and a kneeling down before the actual fact--"a sense for the State," they now call it, as if _that_ had still to be propagated! He who does not understand how brutal and unintelligent history is will never understand the stimulus to make it intelligent. Just think how rare it is to find a man with as great an intelligent knowledge of his own life as Goethe had . what amount of rationality can we expect to find arising out of these other veiled and blind existences as they work chaotically with and in opposition to each other? And it is especially naive when Hellwald, the author of a history of culture, warns us away from all "ideals," simply because history has killed them off one after the other. 156 To bring to light without reserve the stupidity and the want of reason in human things ยท that is the aim of _our_ brethren and colleagues. People will then have to distinguish what is essential in them, what is incorrigible, and what is still susceptible of further improvement. But "Providence" must be kept out of the question, for it is a conception that enables people to take things too easily. I wish to breathe the breath of _this_ purpose into science. Let us advance our knowledge of mankind! The good and rational in man is accidental or apparent, or the contrary of something very irrational. There will come a time when _training_ will be the only thought. |
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