Single Idea 20264

[catalogued under 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / b. Soul]

Full Idea

The sum of inner movements that are easy for a person and that he consequently performs happily and with grace is called his 'soul'; - if inner movements obviously cause him difficulty and effort, he is considered soulless.

Gist of Idea

The easy and graceful aspects of a person are called 'soul', and inner awkwardness is called 'soulless'

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 311)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Dawn (Daybreak) (v 5)', ed/tr. Smith, Brittain [Stanford 2011], p.191


A Reaction

'Soulless' is usually applied to people deficient in some sort of empathic feeling, or with an inability to recognise grandeur. It seems to imply that people who experience inner torture are soulless, but romantics see them as very soulful.