Nietzsche in Love

Lori challenged me to take on this topic “how Nietzsche can influence a relationship.” As a person of twisted honor I am compelled to continue.

Though few cheerful statements were ever published during Friedrich Nietzsche career, I have found some that could be spun with a positive message. Most of his philosophical career seemed to be based upon disrespect for religion (probably what draws me toward him), yet most other statements make me wonder why he never ended his life as a young man.

Of all things, religion is said to be a sexual and moral regulation entity. Before man invented god, people were free to live and love. Early man may not have been fully in touch with their emotions, but as evolution progressed, humankind would have come to understand it. The problem was that religion came along and stopped the evolution of love dead in its tracks. Nietzsche summed it up by saying, “Christianity gave Eros poison to drink; he did not die of it but degenerated into vice.”

Human were now armed with guilt and suspicion of intent. Is it the person who loves me or is it Satan trying to tempt me. These were the dark ages that created a lot of contempt for women where were burned and drowned as witches. Yet somehow reason again poked its head to the surface. Nietzsche drew out this sentiment when he said, “We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.”

People have finally learned to voice their concerns about love and intent. People realized how precious things could be when they were good. Love again had value as did friendship and communication. Nietzsche illuminates this by saying, “When marrying, ask yourself this question: Do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this person into your old age? Everything else in marriage is transitory.” He also said,”It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”

Finally Nietzsche seems to fully comprehend the sacrifices one must make for love. He also realized the pain and the value of sometimes saying, “no”, when he stated, ”This is what is hardest: to close the open hand because one loves.”

So to all you wise asses out there who didn’t think I could possibly spin a positive article with the ideas of Nietzsche...there you have it. Now someone buy me a drink.