[One Thousand Characters a Day] Reading Nietzsche at Forty<2> - Love Your Fate

Editor's NoteOne of the most famous sayings left by Friedrich Nietzsche is 'Amor fati,' meaning 'Love your fate.' It signifies an attitude of mind that affirms one's destiny as it is, even if life is filled with things beyond our control. Through ＜Nietzsche at Forty＞, let's meet Nietzsche, who sought to lead life proactively while acknowledging reality and limitations. The words drawn from his philosophy will bring great comfort and courage, and you will also find love and passion for your one and only life. Word count: 741 characters.

I want to learn more how to see what is necessary in things as beautiful. By doing so, I will become one of those who make things beautiful. Love your fate. This will be my love from now on! I will not wage war against the ugly. I will not blame. I will not blame those who blame. Turning away will be my only negation! Above all, I will one day become an affirming person!

＜The Gay Science＞

No matter how hard and painful life may be, we must affirm and accept our fate. Then how can we love our painful fate? By having passion. Passion in German is 'Leidenschaft.' This word includes 'Leiden,' meaning suffering, so passion presupposes unavoidable pain. The feeling of passion always accompanies both pain and joy. In other words, passion for life is an attitude to overcome life no matter how painful and difficult it is.

Even if there are many days of despair and regret because of past wrong choices that prevented you from moving in a better direction, worry and regret solve nothing. Over time, you realize that the moments when you were in crisis and hardship were part of the process to receive great blessings. Therefore, you must accept the past at this very moment to move forward. That is why Nietzsche says, "We must sometimes lose ourselves and learn to find ourselves again."

- Jang Jaehyung, ＜Nietzsche at Forty＞, Yuno Books, 16,000 KRW