For those who need consolation no means of consolation is so effective as the assertion that in their case no consolation is possible: it implies so great a degree of distinction that they at once hold up their heads again.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Telling someone that no consolation is possible can paradoxically restore their dignity and confidence.
- In plain terms
- Denial of comfort can boost self‑respect.
- What can you take from it?
- Sometimes harsh truth restores inner strength.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is bluntness helpful?
- How can we balance honesty with empathy?
Another view
Such an approach can be cruel if mistimed.
More from Friedrich Nietzsche
It is not enough to prove something, one has also to seduce or elevate people to it. That is why the man of knowledge should learn how to speak his wisdom: and…
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