"This world is the will to power — and nothing besides! And you yourselves are also this will to power — and nothing besides!"

I, buddydowrongright, was a philosophy major. Yeah, okay, really tear into me about all that useless degree bullshit. I mostly agree. If I didn't have a certain skillset which keeps me gainfully employed in the career field of my choice, my degree would be pretty much worthless and I'd probably be wearing a green apron serving shitwater at Starbucks. But I can't help but think that engaging with philosophy and the voices of great men from the past, every day of my life for almost four years, helped shape me into the man I am today, and I would be very different had I chosen a different route.

Useless ruminations aside, philosophy is Red Pill as fuck. And nobody was more Red Pill than Friedrich Nietzsche.

Think about it: philosophy is a conversation you have with great men who are dead. Each philosopher left only his words, and it is up to you to interpret them and incorporate them into your life as you see fit. A philosopher is a father figure for your intellect. You are free to dismiss and accept the insights you wish. But first you must examine them rationally, to decide for yourself with a complete picture if those ideas agree with your own ethical and intellectual compasses.

By far, the philosopher who had the greatest impact on Young Buddy was Nietzsche. I've read all of his books but one, and revisit them every year. Why? Because unlike the other masthead philosophers you will find in most bookstores, Nietzsche's philosophy cannot be boiled down to a quote you can fit on a refrigerator magnet; it is a challenge, you must do a shit ton of reading and shattering of your own beliefs before you will understand it... much like the Red Pill.

On Morals

Take for example Nietzsche's views about morality:

"Morality is the herd instinct in the individual."

"No shepherd and one herd! Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same: whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse."

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."

On Truth

Or, consider his views on truth, which are very relevant to our feelings here about feminism, the media's destruction of masculinity, and The Citadel.

Some more quotes:

"Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."

"Every word is a prejudice."

Why does man not see things? He is himself standing in the way: he conceals things.

"Mystical explanations are considered deep. The truth is that they are not even superficial."

On Women

Or, consider his views on women. Highly relevant to this sub. Or if you prefer, a final batch of quotes:

"Woman is not yet capable of friendship".

"Finally: woman! One-half of mankind is weak, typically sick, changeable, inconstant... she needs a religion of weakness that glorifies being weak, loving, and being humble as divine: or better, she makes the strong weak--she rules when she succeeds in overcoming the strong... Woman has always conspired with the types of decadence, the priests, against the "powerful", the "strong", the men"

"Everyone carries within him an image of woman that he gets from his mother; that determines whether he will honor women in general, or despise them, or be generally indifferent to them."

"Refined women think that a subject does not exist at all if it is not possible to speak about it in society."

Again, this short sample of choice sayings is just bait. It is not meant to encompass the vast, rich philosophy contained in Nietzsche's books. Even if you disagree with major tenets of his work or have heard bad things about it (critics love to blame Nietzsche for the Holocaust, or for the rise of atheism, or call him a misogynist... whatever), I encourage you to take the challenge of reading Nietzsche, and decide for yourself.

You can start with Beyond Good and Evil (or the print version).

Or if you think you're ready, dive right into his magnum opus.

Enjoy.