Quotes With Meaning
What then is truth? A movable host of metaphors, metonymies, and anthropomorphisms: in short, a sum of human relations which have been poetically and rhetorically intensified, transferred, and embellished, and which, after long usage, seem to a people to be fixed, canonical, and binding. Truths are illusions which we have forgotten are illusions — they are metaphors that have become worn out and have been drained of sensuous force.
What then is truth? A movable host of metaphors, metonymies, and anthropomorphisms: in short, a sum of human relations which have been poetically and rhetorically intensified, transferred, and embellished, and which, after long usage, seem to a people to be fixed, canonical, and binding. Truths are illusions which we have forgotten are illusions — they are metaphors that have become worn out and have been drained of sensuous force.
This quote addresses the nature of truth and how it is formed by human experiences and expressions. Nietzsche suggests that truth is not an absolute entity but a collection of metaphors, symbols, and relationships that we have collectively agreed upon over time. These truths often become so ingrained in our society that we forget they are merely interpretations rather than ultimate realities. As we grow and evolve, these once vivid ideas lose their initial power and become mere conventions. This perspective encourages a mindset of questioning established beliefs and recognizing the fluidity of what we consider true. Embracing this understanding can lead to personal growth and freedom from rigid thinking.