Monday, March 17, 2025

1880s: 'Noon and Eternity' is a phrase of Nietzsche's

In 1881, the phrase "noon and eternity" appears in Nietzsche's notebook, related to Zarathustra.

In 1882, Nietzsche was scribbling this (PDF):

Noon and Eternity: Outline of a heroic philosophy. Humans who strive for greatness are usually evil humans: it
is the only way they can live with themselves.

"In the Spring of 1886 we find Nietzsche listing possible titles for new books:

Titles for ten new books
  1. Thoughts on the Ancient Greeks
  2. Will to Power. Attempt at a New Explanation of All Events
  3. The Artist. Afterthoughts of a Psychologist
  4. We Godless Ones
  5. Noon and Eternity [emphasis mine]
  6. Beyond Good and Evil. Prelude to the Philosophy of the Future
  7. Gai saber. Songs of Prince Free-as-a-Bird
  8. Music
  9. Experiences of a Scholar
  10. Nightfall on Modernity: A History"

— Jillian Hess, “Nietzsche's Literary Remains: ‘We Lizards of Happiness,’” Noted, Mar 17, 2025. Hess is citing Mazzino Montinari. Reading Nietzsche. University of Illinois Press, 2003, p. 87.

He was thinking of using "noon and eternity" as a title for Zarathustra's conclusion.

This band named their album "Noon and Eternity," and one of the tracks is called "Early 1880s." I don't know why, but clearly it's from Nietzsche.

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