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All modern philosophizing is political, policed by governments, churches, academics, custom, fashion, and human cowardice, all off which limit it to a fake learnedness.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Nietzsche critiques how modern philosophy is influenced and constrained by societal institutions and fears.

Friedrich Nietzsche's quote suggests that contemporary philosophical thought is heavily regulated by various authorities, including governments, religious institutions, and societal norms. He argues that this regulation hampers genuine intellectual exploration, leading to a superficial understanding of philosophy that lacks authenticity and depth due to the pervasive influence of fear and conformity among individuals.

Themes

PhilosophyPoliticsSocietyAuthorityFreedomIntellect

In practice

Example use cases

During a lecture on the influence of society on personal beliefs.

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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 β€” as if happiness sat on the throne. Often, mud sits on the throne β€” 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.
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The anarchist and the Christian have a common origin.
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