Category: Notes

It is better a philosophy that, instead of extending indefinitely into new themes, goes around in circles, enriching itself as it gives new forms and new nuances to half a dozen essential themes. Everything else seems but a distancing from these, and consequently a directing of attention to less and less important questions, to the point where reflection loses its meaning and takes place for the mere pleasure of reflecting. At this point, the true philosopher is dead.

Pessimism is justifiable; what does not seem sensible is, despite the pessimism, to allow oneself to live a life whose days are not filled with enthusiasm. Screw the circumstances! If not for enjoying them, let there be motivation to change them! Let there be at least one opportunity in waking up, and a lesson in the failure of the day before. If it is to live, let it be with courage and energy! The man who, sitting on his own rationality, denies himself this minimum, will do more and better for honor by ceasing to be.

An illusion, whenever destroyed, gives rise to an insult. This is why pessimism, exterminator of illusions par excellence, was and always will be insulted. A normal person cannot face it without revolt, without feeling assaulted and unjustly despoiled. And he cannot help taxing it not as an unpleasant, but as a criminal. If it cannot be refuted with logic, let it be with violence! Every pessimist has to be aware of the destructive effect of his words and of the reaction that, to a greater or lesser extent, he will naturally provoke. And then he must measure how strong is his need to express himself in the face of the reprisals he will suffer. Rationally, he will probably conclude that the former is unnecessary; but he will be unhappy if he feels obliged to pay in this life the debt he has contracted with the enemies of the multitudes.