We are all not what we seem based on the conditions for which we have consciousness and words, and thus praise and blame. After our private outbursts, we don't recognize ourselves. We draw wrong conclusions from data where exceptions are stronger than rules. We misinterpret our own ego's clear pronouncements. But our wrong opinion of ourselves forms our character and destiny.

  We are all of us not what we appear to be according to the conditions for which alone we have consciousness and words, and consequently praise and blame. We fail to recognise ourselves after these coarse outbursts which are known to ourselves alone, we draw conclusions from data where the exceptions prove stronger than the rules; we misinterpret ourselves in reading our own ego's pronouncements, which appeared to be so clear. But our opinion of ourselves, this so-called ego which we have arrived at by this wrong method, contributes henceforth to form our character and destiny.

Nietzsche, unlike other philosophers, had an artistic way of philosophizing, making his writings poetic. Even those who don't understand him can be inspired. The Dawn of Day is one of his less popular books, but I loved it as much as his others. I felt he criticized Christianity more in this book. Every prose was powerful and could turn our minds upside down, even if some were wrong. In this book, Nietzsche expounds on radical theories, like the harmful nature of Christianity and how the drive for power affects human behavior.

  Acting the Truth.—Many a man is truthful, not because he would be ashamed to exhibit hypocritical feelings, but because he would not succeed very well in inducing others to believe in his hypocrisy. In a word, he has no confidence in his talent as an actor, and therefore prefers honestly to act the truth.

When Nietzsche titled his book The Dawn of Day, it wasn't just a fancy title. It represents the dawn of his own philosophy. Before, he was influenced by Schopenhauer, Wagner, and maybe Comte. Human, all-too-Human was a transition. After leaving Bayreuth, Nietzsche was trying to be independent and find his own philosophy. The Dawn of Day, written in 1881 in a Genoese spring, is the start of the new Nietzsche. He said in his autobiography that with this book, he opened his campaign against morality.

  Hierarchy.—First and foremost, there are the superficial thinkers, and secondly the profound thinkers—such as dive into the depths of a thing,—thirdly, the thorough thinkers, who get to the bottom of a thing—which is of much greater importance than merely diving into its depths,—and, finally, those who leap head foremost into the marsh: though this must not be looked upon as indicating either depth or thoroughness! these are the lovers of obscurity.

Today, we can observe the emergence of a society's culture where commerce is as integral as personal contest was to the ancient Greeks and war, victory, and justice were to the Romans. The person engaged in commerce knows how to evaluate everything without creating it, and to do so according to the consumer's needs, not his own. "Who and how many will consume this?" is his most crucial question. This type of evaluation he instinctively and constantly applies to everything, including the productions of the arts and sciences, thinkers, scholars, artists, statesmen, peoples, parties, and the entire age. Regarding everything that is made, he inquires about supply and demand to determine the value of a thing in his eyes. This becomes the character of an entire culture, thought out in the minutest and subtlest details and imprinted in every will and faculty. It is this of which the people of the coming century will be proud, if the prophets of the commercial class are correct in giving it to them. However, I have little faith in these prophets. Credat Judaeus Apella, as Horace said.

  These young men lack neither character nor talent nor industry. But they have never been given the time to choose a course for themselves. On the contrary, they have been accustomed since childhood to having a course given to them by someone else. When they were mature enough to be "sent off into the desert," something else was done. They were employed, purloined from themselves, trained to be worn out daily, and taught to regard this as a matter of duty. And now they cannot do without it and would not have it otherwise. Only these poor beasts of burden must not be denied their "holidays"—as they call this idleness-ideal of an overworked century in which one is for once allowed to laze about, be idiotic, and childish to one's heart's content.

Political and economic affairs are not worthy of being the enforced concern of society's most gifted spirits. Such a wasteful use of the spirit is ultimately worse than having none at all. They are and remain domains for lesser minds, and others than lesser minds ought not to be in the service of these workshops. It would be better for the machinery to fall apart again! But as things stand now, with everyone believing they are obliged to know what is happening here every day and neglecting their own work to continuously participate in it, the whole arrangement has become a great and ludicrous piece of insanity. The price being paid for "universal security" is much too high. And the maddest thing is that what is being achieved is the very opposite of universal security, a fact that our lovely century is undertaking to demonstrate, as if demonstration were needed! To make society safe against thieves and fireproof and endlessly amenable to every kind of trade and traffic, and to transform the state into a kind of providence in both the good and bad senses—these are lower, mediocre, and in no way indispensable goals that ought not to be pursued by any means of the highest instruments that exist. These instruments ought to be saved for the highest and rarest objectives! Our age may talk about economy, but it is in fact a squanderer. It squanders the most precious thing there is, the spirit.

Nietzsche, Aurora, V, 454: « A book like this is not to be read all at once and aloud, but to be browsed through […] one must be able to put one's head into it and always take it out again, without finding anything familiar around oneself. »

For this reason, I will have to read and reread this work. However, it is still full of ideas even on a first linear reading. The words of Nietzsche in this passage suggest that some books are not meant to be devoured in one sitting. Instead, they require a more leisurely and exploratory approach. Browsing through a book allows us to dip in and out, to discover new ideas and perspectives each time. This work, in particular, seems to offer a wealth of material for thought and reflection. Even on a first reading, it presents us with many interesting concepts and insights. I look forward to delving deeper into its pages and uncovering more of its secrets.

One of my absolute favorite Nietzsche texts is truly a remarkable piece of work. It contains profound insights and ideas that were far ahead of their time. Sadly, the world at that moment wasn't entirely prepared to embrace this unique style of thought. If only it had been, perhaps we could have potentially avoided two devastating world wars and several other smaller but equally significant skirmishes. Nietzsche's ideas had the potential to reshape our understanding of morality, power, and human nature. However, due to the resistance and lack of acceptance, these ideas remained somewhat dormant. It is a great pity that we didn't fully explore and implement his teachings, as it might have led to a more peaceful and enlightened world.

This is truly, for better or worse, a guidebook to Nietzsche.

It is almost as broad as the joyous science, yet more pessimistic and duller.

Nietzsche's ideas are complex and often controversial, and this guidebook attempts to navigate through the maze of his thoughts.

It explores his views on morality, religion, power, and the meaning of life.

The author presents Nietzsche's ideas in a clear and accessible way, while also providing historical and cultural context.

However, the guidebook also has its limitations. It may not fully capture the depth and nuance of Nietzsche's philosophy, and some readers may find its pessimistic tone off-putting.

Overall, this guidebook is a useful introduction to Nietzsche's thought, but it should not be taken as the final word on the subject.

Readers interested in a more in-depth exploration of Nietzsche's ideas should consult his original works and other scholarly interpretations.

Nietzsche's works have truly become a source of inspiration and guidance for me. His profound insights and unique perspectives have opened my eyes to a whole new world of thought. \\"Dawn\\" in particular is not just a collection of aphorisms but a series of thought experiments that can be applied to various aspects of our lives. In a world filled with marketing-sponsored and politically-correct messages that often seem sterile and cliched, Nietzsche's words offer a refreshing and challenging alternative. He urges us to question our assumptions, to unlearn destructive patterns of thought and behavior, and to strive for personal growth and development. His emphasis on the importance of the self and the power of the intellect is especially relevant in today's modern society, where we often feel devalued and lost. By reading Nietzsche's works, we can reclaim our sense of purpose and meaning, and find the strength to face the challenges of life with a positive attitude.

\\"Such as we are now, we can endure a fair amount of distress and our stomach is prepared for this hard diet. Perhaps without it we would find life's meal insipid: and without a positive attitude toward pain we would have to abandon too many pleasures!\\"

It's official. Nietzsche is my new prophet, my lord and saviour. To paraphrase his own experiences with Dostoyevsky, (re)discovering his works has been one of the most beautiful fortunes of my life. My trials - like most everyone - go beyond this oppressive cloud of infection that envelops this world today, yes, it can be even called a nihilistic 'disease' - but a 'disease' in the sense that pregnancy is a disease.

To those that are sick of the sterile, cliched way the world is presented to us by marketing-sponsored, politically-correct messages, that need to unlearn destructive patterns of thought and behavior, to those that seek not just to be consoled but shaken up by a form of personal therapy - read this book, and as Nietzsche exhorts, read it carefully.

Do you think you are the finished article because you conform to society's idea of morality and goodness? If so, read this and realise that it has been to the detriment of your self-development. And when can be more important than the self?

Have you felt that modern life has devalued the use of your intellect? Then read this, and reclaim the glorious power of your intellect.

This is important, timeless, universal advice that can be applied to a variety of contexts in the individual's rather lonely struggle for meaning.

Dawn is not a collection of aphorisms, but instead can be seen as a set of loosely linked thought experiments. And the beauty of this and the rest of the 'free-spirit' trilogy which are written in primarily aphoristic form, is that you can carry it around like a Bible, crack it open on a cold, dark, ugly December day, waiting for a bus or waiting for death, and live through the title that Nietzsche chose for this book; a title inspired by this passage from the Rig Veda that says:

\\"There are so many dawns that have not yet broken\\".

Chin up, friends. It is an ugly world, but no ugliness can be possible without a parallel concept of beauty that we can find if we truly strive for it. A journey that begins with the greatest personal integrity.

\\"'And in summa: what is that you want that is actually new?' - We no longer want to turn causes into sinners and the consequences into executioners.\\"



After-word: It's also worth mentioning that this translation - by Brittain Smith - is excellent, and is in the vein of the very best Kauffman and Hollingdale translations. Be very selective with the translator, as this can make a great difference to your enjoyment of the work.

After reading a scientific essay for the #bookchallenge of the @bibliotecasanvalentino, I felt like reading another essay, this time a philosophical one. Well, I have to say that I'm quite sorry about that.

Nietzsche had always intrigued me while I was studying him in high school, so I thought I would find his works very interesting. Instead, it wasn't like that, at least not with this work of his. I have to say that I had a lot of difficulty concentrating on what I was reading.

Very often, I simply found it a way to freely criticize everything and complain. In some aspects, it was even too negative for me, and I didn't find much that was constructive.

I didn't like the writing either, which probably lost some fluidity also because of the translation.

Rating: 2/10

#bibliosanvalechallengebook2022

Book read no. 22

Challenge 19: A book with a blue cover. "Dawn. Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality" by Friedrich W. Nietzsche.

P.s. even though the cover of this edition is not blue, the cover of the edition I read is.

It is the first time I have read a philosophy book and I have been

Nietzsche targets morality and moralists in this book. He emphasizes the fact that morality, just like in many authorities, is a concept that must only be obeyed, with no room for thinking, questioning, or speaking about it.

There are intense criticisms of moral thinkers like Kant and Rousseau in the book. I must state that I find most of them valid.

According to Nietzsche, the free person is amoral. He advocates that a person should be self-reliant rather than being bound to any authority, just like religious views. And he is right. Even though all your acquaintances, the society formed by these acquaintances and other people, bear down on you completely, being able to say and defend these things is by no means an easy situation. Even if it is more difficult to ridicule the world like Nietzsche, it should be done.

I should also note that there is no unity in the book. You may find yourself reading something about the Germans while at the same time being overwhelmed by thoughts on morality. It is impossible to fully understand what the master has expressed. I suggest reading it slowly, perhaps a few pages a day if possible.

The best translation of Nietzsche's early aphorist style is of great significance. Nietzsche's aphorisms are like precious gems, shining with profound thoughts and unique insights. A good translation can accurately convey the essence of his words, allowing readers to better understand and appreciate his ideas. It requires not only a high level of language proficiency but also a deep understanding of Nietzsche's philosophy. The translator needs to carefully choose words and expressions to ensure that the translation is both faithful to the original and has a smooth and natural reading experience. In addition, the translator should also pay attention to the cultural background and historical context of Nietzsche's works to avoid misinterpreting his ideas. Only in this way can we truly present the charm of Nietzsche's early aphorist style to readers and let them gain inspiration and enlightenment from his works.

What you can say about Nietzsche is little. Even if you don't agree with everything he says, he opens up new horizons in your thinking. Surely the fact that he writes in a more popular way, as opposed to Sartre or Kant, helps.

Nietzsche's ideas are complex and often controversial. He challenges many of the traditional beliefs and values that have been held for centuries. His work encourages us to question our own assumptions and to think independently.

Although his writing style may be more accessible than some other philosophers, his ideas are still profound and require careful consideration. Nietzsche's work has had a significant impact on many different fields, including philosophy, literature, and psychology.

In conclusion, Nietzsche is a thinker who cannot be ignored. Whether you agree with him or not, his ideas have the power to inspire and challenge us. We should continue to study his work and engage with his ideas in order to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

I would highly suggest having a certain amount of background knowledge about Nietzsche before delving into the material. This way, it becomes significantly easier to understand the profound concepts and ideas presented. However, it is crucial to note that one should not let the lack of extensive prior knowledge stop them from interpreting the material on their own. Each person's perspective and understanding can bring a unique and valuable dimension to the reading experience. Nietzsche's works are truly amazing, just like every single book he has ever written. They have the power to challenge our beliefs, expand our minds, and inspire us to think deeply about the nature of existence, morality, and the human condition.

Whether you are a seasoned scholar or a novice reader, Nietzsche's books offer a wealth of intellectual stimulation and food for thought. So, don't be afraid to embark on this journey of exploration and discovery, armed with your own curiosity and an open mind.