Your Own Flame by Friedrich Nietzsche

"You must wish to consume yourself in your own flame: how could you wish to become new unless you had first become ashes?" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche from Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Wow.

You want to become new? How do you expect to do that if you aren't willing to light a match and torch your old self?

All this talk about fires and growth reminds me of one of my favorite thoughts from Joseph Campbell: "Sir Ramakrishna said, "Do not seek illumination unless you seek it as a man whose hair is on fire seeks a pond." Love that.

* lights match * * hands it to you* * points to pond *

"To change your life: start immediately; do it flamboyantly; no exceptions." ~ William James

...

"I must perfect myself." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche from Thus Spoke Zarathustra

More from Friedrich Nietzsche…

• Friedrich Nietzsche’s Big Ideas
• Friedrich Nietzsche’s quotes
• Buy the book from Amazon!

More Ideas on: Thoughts, Growth, Love, Change, William James, Friedrich Nietzsche, Joseph Campbell, New, Life, Nietzsche, Light, Fire, Perfect, Expect, Torch Become