180 Nietzscheor metaphysical speculation. Nietzsche certainly believed in its proposi-
donai truth, but regarded the existentially transformational power that
emanated from this idea as still more significant. He understood it as a
challenge to live every moment in such a way that it could return with-
out causing horror. This idea could make the moment shine and confer
dignity on life. We will go into further detail on this point later.
For Nietzsche, an idea can attain this degree of transformational
power over the body only if it is couched in a linguistic form of great
beauty and pithiness. Style had an almost corporeal sensitivity for him.
He reacted to linguistic forms with physical symptoms ranging from ela-
tion and physical well-being to lethargy and vomiting. He aspired to set
himself and others in motion with his remarks, which is probably why
he usually took walks while formulating them and setting them to
rhythm. In the following passage, Nietzsche let his readers in on several
trade secrets of his workshop of thoughts and words: "Let us pay care-
ful attention and listen to ourselves at the moments in which we hear or
discover a proposition that is new to us. Perhaps it will displease us
because it is so defiant and so autocratic Unconsciously we ask our-
selves whether we cannot juxtapose an opposition to it as an adversary,
whether we can fasten a 'perhaps,' an 'occasionally' onto it; even the lit-
tle: word 'likely' gives us a sense of satisfaction because it breaks the per-
sonally oppressive tyranny of the unconditional. If, on the other hand,
that new proposition enters in a more gende form, nicely patient and
humble and, as it were, sinking into the arms of the contradiction, we
put our autocracy to yet another test. How can we not come to the aid
of this weak creature, stroke it and feed it, give it strength and generos-
ity, even truth and unconditionality?" (2,389; HHIl AOS § 26).
The beauty and strength of propositions become virtually synony-
mous with their truth value. The will to know must come to terms with
a sense of style and rhythm. There needs to be a subde, enthralling, awe-
inspiring, and seductive performance on the stage of propositions. It is
essential for ideas to be quite vigorous, "as though they were individuals
with whom one had to fight and whom one must join, protect, care for,