Christianity remains to this day the greatest misfortune of humanity.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Species do not grow more perfect: the weaker dominate the strong, again and again- the reason being that they are the great majority, and they are also cleverer. Darwin forgot the mind (-that is English!): the weak possess more mind. ... To acquire mind, one must need mind-one loses it when one no longer needs it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote explores the dynamics of power and intelligence in species, suggesting that the weaker often prevail due to their numerical advantage and cleverness.
Nietzsche's quote reflects on the idea that strength and perfection are not the only determinants of survival or success in nature. He argues that the majority, often perceived as weaker, can outsmart the strong through their numbers and intellectual abilities. This challenges the traditional notion of survival of the fittest and highlights the importance of adaptability and cunning over brute strength.
Themes
SpeciesStrengthIntelligenceSurvivalCleverness
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about evolution and survival, one might say, 'As Nietzsche observed, the weaker can often outsmart the strong.'
More from Friedrich Nietzsche
All quotes →That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Watch them clamber, these swift monkeys! They clamber over one another and thus drag one another into the mud and the depth. They all want to get to the throne: that is their madness — as if happiness sat on the throne. Often, mud sits on the throne — and often the throne also on mud. Mad they all appear to me, clambering monkeys and overardent. Foul smells their idol, the cold monster: foul, they smell to me altogether, these idolators.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Reason is the cause of our falsification of the evidence of the senses. In so far as the senses show becoming, passing away, change, they do not lie.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
The anarchist and the Christian have a common origin.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Similar quotes
At this point in history when all things which concern man and the structure and elements of history itself are suddenly revealed to us in a new light, it behooves us in our scientific thinking to become masters of the situation, for it is not inconceivable that sooner than we suspect, as has often been the case before in history, this vision may disappear, the opportunity may be lost, and the world will once again present a static, uniform, and inflexible countenance.
Karl MannheimRead
Poor intricated soul! Riddling, perplexed, labyrinthical soul!
John DonneRead
Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep - he hath awakened from the dream of life - 'Tis we, who lost in stormy visions, keep with phantoms an unprofitable strife.
Percy Bysshe ShelleyRead
One of the basic troubles with radio and television news is that both instruments have grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, advertising and news. Each of the three is a rather bizarre and demanding profession. And when you get all three under one roof, the dust never settles.
Edward R. MurrowRead
Being democratic is not enough, a majority cannot turn what is wrong into right. In order to be considered truly free, countries must also have a deep love of liberty and an abiding respect for the rule of law.
Margaret ThatcherRead
Gender is not an easy conversation to have. It makes people uncomfortable, sometimes even irritable. Both men and women are resistant to talk about gender or are quick to dismiss the problems of gender. Because thinking of changing the status quo is always uncomfortable.
Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieRead