Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The wisdom of the preachers of death says: 'a god who lives on, but we are so much like Thor! And that is the most terrible thing about life!'
In plain terms
The preachers of death claim that living godlike is terrifying.
What can you take from it?
Recognize the fear in idolizing power.

Where it applies

  • philosophical debate
  • literary analysis

Putting it to work

  • question heroic ideals
  • accept mortality

Questions to consider

  • Why is godlike existence seen as terrible?
  • How does this view affect living fully?

Another view

The quote is obscure and may be misinterpreted.

More from Friedrich Nietzsche

  1. 'Je mehr er hinauf in die Hohe und Helle will, um so starker streben seine Wurzeln erdwarts, abwarts, in's Dunkle, Tiefe, - in's Bose.'

    Permalink to quote #115

  2. Ich weiss um den Hass und Neid eures Herzens. Ihr seid nicht gross genug, um Hass und Neid nicht zu kennen. So seid denn gross genug, euch ihrer nicht zu scham…

    Permalink to quote #117

  3. Im Gebirge ist der nachste Weg von Gipfel zu Gipfel: aber dazu musst du lange Beine haben. Spruche sollen Gipfel sein: und Die, zu denen gesprochen wird, Gross…

    Permalink to quote #114

Related quotes

  1. [The] chief [of the gods of Cimmeria] is Crom. He dwells on a great mountain. What use to call on him? Little he cares if men live or die. Better to be silent …

    Robert E. HowardRobert E. Howard quote #5

  2. The three eldest children of Necessity: God, the World and love.

    Richard GarnettRichard Garnett quote #1

  3. In teaching me the way to live It taught me how to die.

    George Pope MorrisGeorge Pope Morris quote #5