Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher of the late 19th century who challenged the foundations of Christianity and traditional morality. He believed in life, creativity, health, and the realities of the world we live in, rather than those situated in a world beyond. Central to his philosophy is the idea of “life-affirmation,” which involves an honest questioning of all doctrines that drain life's energies, however socially prevalent those views might be. Often referred to as one of the first existentialist philosophers, Nietzsche's revitalizing philosophy has inspired leading figures in all walks of cultural life, including dancers, poets, novelists, painters, psychologists, philosophers, sociologists and social revolutionaries.
"The Christian faith from the beginning, is sacrifice: the sacrifice of all freedom, all pride, all self-confidence of spirit; it is at the same time subjection, self-derision, and self-mutilation"
"One should not go into church if one wants to breathe pure air"
"In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point"
"One is not free to become a Christian. One must be sick enough for it"
"God is a thought who makes crooked all that is straight"
"There is not enough religion in the world to destroy the world's religions"
"Christianity makes suffering contagious"
"Belief means not wanting to know what is true"
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything"
"Is man one of God's blunders? Or is God one of man's blunders?"
"I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time"
"That little hypocrites and half-crazed people dare to imagine that on their account the laws of nature are constantly broken—such an enhancement of every kind of selfishness to infinity, to impudence, cannot be branded with sufficient contempt. And yet Christianity owes its triumph to this pitiable flattery of personal vanity.”
