What doe this quote mean?

Question

What did Nietzsche mean when he wrote "And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you"?
The full quote is: "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."---Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, Aphorism 146. I have some guesses, but I am interested in other interpretatioms. I appreciate any insight.

Answer 1

Be True To Your Nightmare

Its All You Got

really

Answer 2

Nietzsche often switched points of view in aphorisms as a method for getting the ready to consider the concept from different angles.

One interpretation is to say that this refers to a common phenomena. That is a person who has some free floating anxiety will find things to worry about. That is, if you go hunting for ghosts, you'll find them.

It could also refer to the juxtaposition of the rational and irrational. Looking purposefully into the abyss would be a rational act of exploration. Seeing the abyss look back at you is an irrational, emotional reaction.

I can't help but picture someone looking into a mirror when I read this quote. Which brings up the whole concept of perception vs reality. You can never see reality or an abyss. You can only see your own perception of your face in the mirror, or your perception or interpretation of the abyss.

Gosh, who knows what the heck this means :-) I'm no philosopher :-)

Answer 3

I have always took it to parallel the circular theory of opposites. The more opposed to something you are, the more like it you are.

Think of two enemies on the battle field. They are so dedicated to destroying each other that they become almost indistinguishable from each other. Each filled with hate, showing no remorse, dedicated to nothing but destruction.

Nietzche's point is to remember that there are other things than what you are obsessing about. Do not let yourself be defined by your goal.

Answer 4

That you shouldn't think too long about the darker side of life, the longer you do the more that darkness creeps into you and becomes you, changes your personality. If you walk too long out of the light your forever in darkness. Though, I think a Foghorn Leghorn cartoon could cure that too....which is how I stay out of the darkness.

Answer 5

Literally, if you look into the depths of human behavior too much, if you become obsessed with its lowness, rather than concentrating on its heights, then that lowliness will start to be reflected in aspects of you.

Answer 6

It means that if you examine something evil too closely, you become tainted and become evil yourself. It means also that you should never fight against something by using the same tactics as they do, otherwise, you're no better, and you've become the thing you're fighting against and quite possibly the thing you despise.

Answer 7

You become one with what you study or obsess over. Think of Hannible Lechter or how so many infamous people were obsessed with other evil people. (Saddam Hussein was obsessed with Stalin) etc.

Answer 8

Seems to me (but I don't know) that it is saying if you contemplate something frightening or ugly that it can rub off on you and inject fear or disgust into you as well.

Answer 9

It means that you supposedly should love your friends more than your enemies but your enemies you need to keep an eye on more than your friends because you can trust your friends but not your enemies

Answer 10

you become what you do