Is not life a hundred times too short for us to bore ourselves? – Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche was a German writer and philosopher whose writings covered a broad spectrum, from philosophy to art, history, science and culture. He originally went to university to train for the ministry but he lost his faith and turned to the study of philology, which is the study of literary texts and written records. He discovered philosophy when he was 21 when he began reading Schopenhauer. Nietzsche popularized, though did not invent, the phrase “God is dead” and he lost his mind in his mid-40’s and died when he was 55.
The boredom Nietzsche is talking about is not sitting around playing with our fidget spinner but leading a life that is off our path, a life spent existing and not living, a life spent reacting to outside stimuli and not responding to what comes from deep inside us.
We are boring ourselves.
Is not life a hundred times too short…
While the years might seem long, in reality our years here are mere specks on Earth’s canvas. The years turn into decades and the decades turn into centuries and by then we are long forgotten, our years here a brief interlude in time’s relentless march. Time overtakes us just like it overtook those before us and like it will overtake everyone who follows us. It’s the way the world is built.
So instead of boring ourselves, we should be amusing ourselves. If we follow our hearts and trust our instincts we will be shown fresh prospects every day because our hearts will tell us where to go and our instincts will tell us how to get there. Our lives will become our best amusement, our path taking us exactly where we are meant to go.
Exactly what amuses us is of no particular consequence. It will vary from person to person, of course, and it is entirely possible that what interests me might well bore the heck out of you. That’s all right. We are not going to find our path on roads commonly traveled by others and if we stay on the road we are meant to take, our lives will be far from boring.
The Thought for the Day runs regularly. Quotes are from Gaylon’s private stock.
