Famous quote by Friedrich Nietzsche

Mobile Desktop
Not necessity, not desire - no, the love of power is the demon of men. Let them have everything - health, food, a place
Like

"Not necessity, not desire - no, the love of power is the demon of men. Let them have everything - health, food, a place to live, entertainment - they are and remain unhappy and low-spirited: for the demon waits and waits and will be satisfied"

- Friedrich Nietzsche

About this Quote

Friedrich Nietzsche's quote looks into the complex nature of human motivation and frustration. At its core, the quote suggests that beyond standard needs like health, food, and shelter, people possess an insatiable desire for something more abstract: power. Nietzsche explains this desire as a "demon," an intrinsic and potentially damaging force, hiding within people.

The statement begins by turning down the presumption that need or desire alone drive human actions and satisfaction. Requirement describes basic requirements required for survival, while desire typically suggests personal wants or enthusiasms. Nietzsche argues that even when these requirements and desires are met, humans stay "unhappy and low-spirited." This insight indicate a much deeper mental or existential yearning that exceeds mere survival or enjoyment.

The "love of power" is identified as the real driving force behind human discontent. Power, in this context, is not merely political or economic supremacy but incorporates a broader sense of control, influence, and proficiency over oneself and one's environment. Nietzsche's idea of power aligns with his philosophical concept of the "will to power," which transcends physical or material fulfillment and rather embodies a basic underpinning of life and growth.

The metaphorical devil "waits and waits and will be satisfied" suggests a continuous, maybe unquenchable, yearning within individuals. This insidious discontentment implies that human nature is naturally agitated and that satisfaction through power is an evasive pursuit. The insatiability of this demon challenges the adequacy of external solutions like material wealth or comfort in dealing with human unhappiness.

Furthermore, Nietzsche's perspective invites reflection on the human condition, emphasizing the complexity of satisfaction. It poses enduring questions about the sources of true satisfaction and challenges readers to consider just how much of their pursuits are driven by this inherent love of power versus existential significance or genuine self-actualization. In doing so, it paints a picture of humanity that is both interesting and unsettling, prompting introspection into the motives behind our actions and aspirations.

About the Author

Friedrich Nietzsche This quote is written / told by Friedrich Nietzsche between October 15, 1844 and August 25, 1900. He was a famous Philosopher from Germany. The author also have 185 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: The biggest coward is a man who awakens a womans love with no intention of loving her - Bob Marley
Bob Marley
"The biggest coward is a man who awakens a woman’s love with no intention of loving her"
Bob Marley, Musician
Small: Everything you add to the truth subtracts from the truth - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
"Everything you add to the truth subtracts from the truth"
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Author
Small: Cleverness is serviceable for everything, sufficient for nothing - Henri Frederic Amiel
"Cleverness is serviceable for everything, sufficient for nothing"
Henri Frederic Amiel, Philosopher
Small: Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop - H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken
"Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop"
H. L. Mencken, Writer
Small: Power is given only to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up. Only one thing matters, one thing to
Fyodor Dostoevsky
"Power is given only to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up. Only one thing matters, one thing; to be able to dare!"
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Novelist
Small: If you understood everything I say, youd be me! - Miles Davis
Miles Davis
"If you understood everything I say, you'd be me!"
Miles Davis, Musician
Small: Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles - Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
"Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles"
Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect
Small: Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible - Marion C. Garretty
Marion C. Garretty
"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible"
Marion C. Garretty, Poet
Small: Prestige is the shadow of money and power - C. Wright Mills
C. Wright Mills
"Prestige is the shadow of money and power"
C. Wright Mills, Sociologist
Small: To the wicked, everything serves as pretext - Voltaire
Voltaire
"To the wicked, everything serves as pretext"
Voltaire, Writer