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Full Idea
Many people have achieved the humility that says: 'I believe because it is absurd', and have sacrificed their reason for it. But no one, as far as I know, has achieved the humility, which is only one step further, of 'I believe because I am absurd'.
Gist of Idea
'I believe because it is absurd' - but how about 'I believe because I am absurd'
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 417)
Book Ref
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Dawn (Daybreak) (v 5)', ed/tr. Smith, Brittain [Stanford 2011], p.217
A Reaction
Nietzsche gives the Latin: 'credo quia absurdum est' (Tertullian), and 'credo quia absurdus sum'. It may look like an insulting remark from Nietzsche, but it is actually in tune with the spirit of the original.
Related Idea
Idea 6610 I believe because it is absurd [Tertullian]
| 8158 | Do not seek to know Brahman by arguments, for arguments are idle and vain [Anon (Upan)] |
| 7997 | Only by love can men see me, know me, and come to me, says Krishna [Anon (Bhag)] |
| 17593 | Always be ready to give reasons for your beliefs [Peter] |
| 6610 | I believe because it is absurd [Tertullian] |
| 6609 | With respect to religion, reason is a blind whore [Luther] |
| 22088 | Faith is like a dancer's leap, going up to God, but also back to earth [Kierkegaard, by Carlisle] |
| 7584 | Without risk there is no faith [Kierkegaard] |
| 7583 | Faith is the highest passion in the sphere of human subjectivity [Kierkegaard] |
| 2919 | 'Faith' means not wanting to know what is true [Nietzsche] |
| 20269 | 'I believe because it is absurd' - but how about 'I believe because I am absurd' [Nietzsche] |
| 7596 | Faith is not just belief in propositions, but also putting trust in them [Armstrong,K] |
| 4727 | The chief problem for fideists is other fideists who hold contrary ideas [O'Grady] |