Discuss the meaning of this quote

[Specforces]

And it's application to society today.

Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes into you.

-Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

[talisman]

RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

I feel as though this quote is suggesting we not confront the perceived evils in the world, and thus instead ignore them. I think it's a crummy way of dealing with your problems, turning your back on them.

[Specforces]

RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Good interpretation, mine is different though.

[FoJaR]

RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

i think it's some bad emo poetry.

[Specforces]

RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Fojar, I was starting to like you too.

[Lightknight924]

RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

I think it means be your self because if you try to fight fire with fire well, you get only fire. Do you get what i'm trying to point out? Interesting poem by the way.

[FoJaR]

Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Fojar, I was starting to like you too.

haha man, just a joke.

i'm not huge on the whole existential thing.

[Specforces]

RE: Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

I know it was a joke, and so was mine, my sense of humor is weird.

[Afrobean]

RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Nietzsche is kewl~

On a more serious note, I think I'll reply for real.

"Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes into you."

Hmm... I agree with Lightknight here, at least partly. The first part of it, "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster" is definitely about the "fight fire with fire" mentality. It gets no one anywhere and causes more damage than if one would simply solve the problem.

The second part seems to be saying not to dwell on the unknown, and those who do dwell are lost.

[Lightknight924]

RE: Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Ok. Getting back on topic, read my previous post and tell me what you think.




*Afrobean didn't post yet at the time I was writing this which referred to FoJar and Specforces.

[FoJaR]

Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

The second part seems to be saying not to dwell on the unknown, and those who do dwell are lost.

which is where i disagree with nietzsche, the godless heathen.

[Specforces]

RE: Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Lightknight had the general idea and Afro nailed it. Good job. This is just the first in quotes I will post. They will become increasingly harder and harder.

[Lightknight924]

Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Nietzsche is kewl~

On a more serious note, I think I'll reply for real.

"Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes into you."

Hmm... I agree with Lightknight here, at least partly. The first part of it, "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster" is definitely about the "fight fire with fire" mentality. It gets no one anywhere and causes more damage than if one would simply solve the problem.

The second part seems to be saying not to dwell on the unknown, and those who do dwell are lost.

Yeah, took me a few times to fully understand his post but he nailed it.

[talisman]

RE: Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

Meh, I would disagree with afro's interpretation because it supposes things that aren't in the quote. For example, the quote didn't say "Don't fight the monsters as the monsters fight/antagonize you" and when afro suggests that "one [should] simply solve the problem" that doesn't answer HOW to solve the problem. And I don't think Nietzche was trying to say "Don't fight the monsters, negotiate with them!"

Fire with fire IS NOT comparable because that suggests the methods by which fighting occurs, whereas in the actual quote nothing is said about HOW fighting between you and the monsters should happen, just that it shouldn't happen at all.

[Specforces]

RE: Re: RE: Discuss the meaning of this quote

It means this ok:

Beware fighting evil, for down the path of its destruction you will also inherit some of this evil, for the only true way to beat evil is use evil yourself.