Nietzsche's New Year's Resolution

Amori Fati

“I want to regard everything necessary as beautiful- so that I will become one of those who makes everything beautiful. Amori fati: from now on, let that be my love!” - Nietzsche, 1882

This quote from Friedrich Nietzsche comes from his book “The Joyous Science,” in a section called For the New Year. This was like a New Years’s Resolution from Nietzsche.

In the quote he highlights the Latin word, amori fati. Amori fati means love of fate. The point of this is to accept everything in life that is necessary as beautiful and delightful. It doesn’t matter if the things happen to be pain, suffering, joy, etc.

Viewing life like this allows one to accept and tolerate everything in life that cannot be avoided. It’s a way of shifting your perspective in life to make it more tolerable. He further stated in the section that he “only wanted to be a life affirmer.”

This perspective can be very helpful in a person’s life. We all are dealt with necessary hardships and suffering that are unavoidable. It’s necessary sometimes to deal with dying loved ones, tolerate harsh bosses, and complete tedious house chores. If we can learn to accept and love these things as necessary rather than fight against them, we can move on in life. We can learn to value, affirm and appreciate life, rather than be angry and depressed by life.

That is beautiful.

ACTION STEPS

• When you have to deal with hardships and suffering in life that are necessary, accept it and learn to love it.

References:

Nietzsche, Friedrich (1882). The Joyous Science. Translated (2018) Hill, Kevin. Penguin Random House