Is woman the most dangerous plaything of all?

Question

The true man wants two things: danger and play. For that reason he wants woman, as the most dangerous plaything.”
by F. Nietzsche.
Do you agree or disagree?

I do think the word "plaything" should not be taken literally.

Answer 1

Plaything is perhaps not the best translation. Nietzsche did not mean toy. There was no meaning that "woman is an object with which to play."

The concept is more like: "When a man plays, he wants to do so with a woman." With this, I agree. Considering that women also tend to be unknown and not understood by most men, they are more dangerous.

Add to this the emotional and sexual overtones that are usually possible only with a member of the opposite sex and you do seem to have the ultimate entertainment.

Answer 2

I would have to disagree. My feelings are that I have more in common with a blind lesbian women from my town, Qualicum Beach then I do with a white middle aged opera listening dope head from Vegas(was just there). I think that is the danger of stereotypes because they are not accurate. I would never refer to a woman as a plaything. I won't objectify any woman with those sorts of comments. With that said, my partner can be a dangerous playmate, she bites and scratches. My buddies at the pool take great pleasure viewing the claw marks that cover me. I am forty one and I show up to work with my twenty two year old coworker and we compare hickeys.

Answer 3

Only if you are John Wayne Bobbit. The first cut is the deepest. Just a little slice of life. One should not go off half ******. Was Nietzsche a player? Come to think of it, I do remember him and Zarathustra hitting the singles bars with a blond plaything on each arm. You bear a striking resemblance to Sophia Loren, have you been told that before?

Answer 4

I don't agree or disagree. It is like saying "Have you stopped beating your wife?"

You can't agree or disagree without silently accepting the idea that women are dangerous, and they are playthings.

There is the remote possibility that a woman can shoot you but other than that, woman are people. They are not playthings and are less "dangerous" than men.

Answer 5

This passage from THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA is one of my favorite quotes from Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, who is arguably the greatest and most stylistic 'philosopher' that has ever lived.

The character Zarathustra follows the above comment with this:

"Man should be trained for war and woman for the recreation of the warrior: all else is folly.[...]
Let man fear woman when she loves. Then she bears every sacrifice and every other thing she accounts valueless.
Let man fear woman when she hates: for man is at the bottom of his soul only wicked, but a woman is base.
Whom does woman hate the most? - Thus spoke the iron to the magnet: 'I hate you most, because you attract me but are not strong enough to draw me towards you.'
The man's happiness is: I will. The woman's happiness is: He will.[...]"...

These are a few of the qualities that make having a relationship with a woman a very appealing, but very cautious; kind of like playing with explosives. In my life, I have found these descriptions of 'woman' to be quite accurate.

So, given the above: Yes, I agree... (now, 'dangerous plaything' that you are, --- HAVE AT ME!!!...)...;-)

Answer 6

I think calling a woman a "plaything" is the most dangerous thing of all.

Answer 7

It's certainly poetic, but I disagree. Men want stability at home. Not a 'dangerous' or totally unpredictable woman. Although, I've certainly seen some of these women married to my friends and family, in my lifetime. lol

Answer 8

Plaything is a bit degrading.... But lets face it, it's it true! I know I am a handful. LOL :)

Answer 9

I will take it a step further, The most dangerous thing a women can say to a man is yes.

Answer 10

I only know that it is a dangerous thing to play with a woman's emotions.

Answer 11

Yes, absolutely. Most dangerous, most fun, most adventurous, most virtuous, most everything all wrapped up into one fantastic package. Where would any man be without that beautiful, dangerous, wonderful, woman.