Fun Facts

Erwin Rohde, Carl von Gersdorff and Friedrich Nietzsche middle of October 1871

1. Middle Name: Nietzsche's full name is Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
2. Birthdate: He was born on October 15, 1844.
3. Named After a King: He was named after King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia.
4. Father's Profession: His father, Karl Ludwig Nietzsche, was a Lutheran pastor.
5. Early Loss: Nietzsche’s father died when he was only five years old.
6. Siblings: He had a younger sister named Elisabeth.
7. Academic Prodigy: Nietzsche became a professor of classical philology at the University of Basel at just 24.
8. Unusual Professorship: He was appointed professor without having completed his doctorate.
9. Military Service: Nietzsche served briefly in the Prussian military before an injury led him to leave.
10. Health Issues: He suffered from severe migraines and poor eyesight throughout his life.
11. Musical Talent: Nietzsche was a skilled pianist and composer.
12. Friendship with Wagner: He had a close but eventually tumultuous relationship with the composer Richard Wagner.
13. Vegetarian: Nietzsche was a vegetarian for several periods of his life.
14. Nomadic Lifestyle: After resigning from Basel, he lived in various European cities, including Venice, Turin, and Nice.
15. Signature Mustache: Nietzsche is known for his distinctive, thick mustache.
16. "God is Dead": This famous phrase appears in "The Gay Science" and "Thus Spoke Zarathustra."
17. Book Rejection: "The Birth of Tragedy" was initially rejected by the academic community.
18. Mental Breakdown: Nietzsche had a mental breakdown in Turin in 1889.
19. Overman Concept: He introduced the concept of the Übermensch, or Overman, in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra."
20. Eternal Recurrence: He proposed the idea of eternal recurrence as a central tenet of his philosophy.
21. Philologist by Training: Nietzsche's formal academic training was in philology, the study of ancient texts.
22. Love for Mountains: He often sought solitude and inspiration in the Swiss Alps.
23. Schulpforta: He attended the prestigious Schulpforta boarding school.
24. Lou Andreas-Salomé: Nietzsche proposed marriage to her but was rejected.
25. Friendship with Paul Rée: He had a close intellectual friendship with the philosopher Paul Rée.
26. Intense Productivity: Many of his major works were written during intense bursts of creativity.
27. Self-Published: Some of Nietzsche's works were self-published due to their controversial nature.
28. Critic of Christianity: He was a fierce critic of Christianity and traditional moral values.
29. Literary Style: Nietzsche's writing style is known for its aphorisms and poetic language.
30. Love for Dance: He famously said, "I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance."
31. Ecce Homo: His autobiography, "Ecce Homo," was written shortly before his mental collapse.
32. Misinterpretation: His sister Elisabeth edited his work posthumously, often distorting his ideas.
33. Syphilis Theory: It is commonly believed that Nietzsche's mental illness was caused by syphilis, though this is debated.
34. Influence on Freud: Sigmund Freud cited Nietzsche as an influence on his psychoanalytic theories.
35. Inspirational Figure: Nietzsche's ideas have inspired existentialist and postmodern philosophers.
36. Posthumous Fame: Much of Nietzsche’s fame came after his death.
37. Self-Reflective Titles: His works include titles like "Ecce Homo," which means "Behold the Man."
38. Nonconformist: Nietzsche often criticized the herd mentality and conformity in society.
39. Symbolism of Dionysus: He used the Greek god Dionysus as a symbol for life's inherent chaos and creativity.
40. Love of Nature: Nietzsche found solace and inspiration in nature, particularly in mountains and forests.
41. Influence on Literature: Writers like Thomas Mann and Hermann Hesse were influenced by Nietzsche.
42. Legacy of Misuse: His philosophy was misappropriated by the Nazis, despite his opposition to anti-Semitism.
43. Health Remedies: He tried various health remedies, including long walks, diet changes, and hydrotherapy.
44. Favorite Philosopher: Nietzsche admired the pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus.
45. Influence on Art: His philosophy has influenced various forms of art, including modernist literature and existential cinema.
46. Published Aphorisms: His book "Human, All Too Human" consists largely of aphorisms.
47. Existential Themes: Nietzsche's work laid the groundwork for existentialist philosophy.
48. Influence on Music: Composers like Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss were influenced by Nietzsche's ideas.
49. Philosopher and Poet: Nietzsche considered himself not only a philosopher but also a poet.
50. Lasting Impact: Nietzsche's influence spans philosophy, psychology, literature, and beyond, making him one of the most significant and controversial thinkers of the modern era.