"It is always consoling to think of suicide: in that way one gets through many a bad night"

Friedrich Nietzsche’s reflection touches on the interplay between despair and hope, suggesting that contemplating the possibility of escape can serve as a psychological balm during periods of acute suffering. The idea of suicide, rather than an incitement to action, becomes a mental refuge, a shadowy possibility that keeps one grounded through adversity. When Nietzsche describes it as “consoling,” he implies that the very awareness of having an exit, however final, can diminish the anguish of seemingly interminable pain. Psychologically, this aligns with the phenomenon where individuals derive comfort from the notion that no suffering is truly eternal or inescapable; even the sheer presence of choice brings agency back to the individual.

Nietzsche’s words do not advocate for suicide, but rather recognize the unique human need to perceive potential solutions to overwhelming distress, even if those solutions are extreme or never actualized. Long, restless nights often bring to the surface thoughts that daylight suppresses. In the darkness, the mind confronts its own vulnerability and reaches for reassurance anywhere it can find it. Knowing that one can end their suffering serves as a release valve, preventing the pressure from accumulating past endurance.

This concept speaks to existential themes central to Nietzsche’s philosophy, agency, the burden of consciousness, and the confrontation with suffering. He recognizes that our ability to endure hardship is entwined with our recognition of options, however grim. The mere existence of a possible endpoint allows for perseverance, paradoxically making life more bearable. When pain appears infinite and unrelenting, the knowledge that it is, in fact, not so final, awakens a subtle hope, enabling us to make it through the “bad night.” In essence, Nietzsche finds a kind of resilience nestled within our darkest ruminations: the thought of ending one’s suffering helps endure it without succumbing, thus turning despair into a form of strength through awareness.