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About this quote

What does it mean?
Art serves as a buffer against the harshness of reality, preventing us from being overwhelmed by truth.
In plain terms
Art protects us from the full impact of truth.
What can you take from it?
Use art to cope with difficult realities.

Where it applies

  • facing harsh facts
  • dealing with trauma

Putting it to work

  • create art
  • engage with creative media

Questions to consider

  • Does avoiding truth help or hinder growth?
  • Can art replace honest reflection?

Another view

Art may also obscure necessary confronting truth.

More from Friedrich Nietzsche

  1. Liberalism is the transformation of mankind into cattle.

    Permalink to quote #219
  2. Your pride can't hurt me - I have no beliefs!

    Permalink to quote #221
  3. What is bad? But I have said this already: all that comes of weakness, of envy, of revenge. The anarchist and the Christian have the same origin.

    Permalink to quote #218

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