Gaze not too long into the abyss, lest the abyss turn its gaze upon you
By urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
6 responses
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
21 Feb 12
let sleeping dog lie.
the abyss is not a good place to keep staring into. evil may become attractive and justifiable if you keep imagining what it entails. the more you want to know everything, the higher the possibility you may be consumed and destroyed by your passion in it.
the more you want to change things and make them work your way, the more things want to change you so that you start working in the opposite direction contrary to what you wanted.
@urbandekay (18278)
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22 Feb 12
Ok, hmmmm, it is hard without giving the game away but let me say this. It could be said to one in despair, one who is excessively sceptical to the point of cynicism, one given to excessive reductionism
all the best urban
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
• Thailand
17 Feb 12
The quote becomes less obscure if it is taken in its entirety. "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
It is always dangerous to try to state what Nietzsche had in mind but to me this seems to say that there is a danger of becoming what you hate or fight against.
Todays neo-athiests are a case in point. They fight the idea of religion with such vigor that their own cause takes on all the trappings of a religion.
@urbandekay (18278)
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17 Feb 12
Your interpretation of the first part is correct, thinks I but I think you have not grasped the meaning of the latter part
all the best urban
@urbandekay (18278)
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18 Feb 12
Ok, generous guy that I am, I am going to give you all a clue, in the vain hope that someone will get it.
I was trying to think of a subtle clue but could only come up with something that completey gives the game away
The void is the absence of value
all the best urban
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@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
17 Feb 12
I've not heard either of those, but they ring true to me, as I believe we are drawn toward that we look at and seek out.. and also believe there to be creative power in our thoughts and words.
@jimbomuso (950)
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18 Feb 12
Hi Urban.
I suppose it means if you stare into the dark heart/void/abyss it becomes aware of you and communicates with you. for example if you look into your darkest desires or dreams long enough, become familiar with them, those dreams and desires will interact with you. it could mean our very presence looking into the void validates it's exsistence.
Nietchze was a dark one! a brutal realist if anything .. but his words have been twisted by a lot of people.
@urbandekay (18278)
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18 Feb 12
No that is not it,
But indeed Nietzsche's words have been twisted
all the best urban
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