Conversing with Nietzsche is uncommonly lovely . . . The content of a conversation of ours really exists in what is not quite spoken but emerges from our each approaching the other half way. He gave me his hand and said earnestly and with feeling, "Never forget that it would be a calamity if you did not carve a memorial to your full innermost mind in the time left to you."
German-Russian essayist, philosopher, and psychoanalyst (1861–1937)
Lou Andreas-Salomé (born either Louise von Salomé or Luíza Gustavovna Salomé or Lioulia von Salomé; 12 February 1861 – 5 February 1937) was a Russian-born psychoanalyst and a well-traveled author, narrator, and essayist from a Russian-German family. Her diverse intellectual interests led to friendships with a broad array of distinguished thinkers, including Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Paul Rée, and Rainer Maria Rilke.
From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Alternative Names:
Louise von Salomé
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Luíza Gustavovna Salomé
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Lou Andreas-Salome
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Louise von Salome
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Luiza Gustavovna Salome
From Wikidata (CC0)
You also write: you had always thought that such complete devotion to purely intellectual goals was only meant to be a "transition" for me. What do you mean by "transition"? If other goals stand behind it, for which I must give up the most glorious and difficult thing on Earth, namely freedom, then I want to stay in this transition, because I won't give that up.
I can neither live according to models, nor shall I ever be able to provide a model for anyone else. On the contrary, what I shall quite certainly do is to shape my own life according to myself, whatever may come of it. In this I have no principle to put forth, but something much more wonderful -- something that is within oneself and is hot with sheer life, and rejoices and wants to come out.
As truly as I'd love a friend,
I always have loved you, riddling life,
whether I've laughed with you or wept,
whether you have brought me pleasure or strife.<p>Even in your sorrow I love you,
and, when you scatter me through space,
I will tear myself out of your arms
as a friend from a dear friend's embrace.<p>With all my strength I cling to you!
Let all your fire enkindle me.
Even in the heat of battle,
let me unravel your mysteries.<p>Thousands of years to live and think!
In your arms I long to remain.
And, when you have no more joy to give --
very well -- you still have your pain.