Lyrks
Lyrks
Lyrks
Cover Art

A kind of Atavism Lyrics by Friedrich Nietzsche

The Gay Science

0

I like best to think of the rare men of an age as suddenly emerging aftershoots of past cultures, and of their persistent strength: like the atavism of a people and its civilisation: there is thus still something in them to think of! They now seem strange, rare, and extra ordinary: and he who feels these forces in himself has to foster them in face of a different, opposing world; he has to defend them, honour them, and rear them to maturity: and he either becomes a great man thereby, or a deranged and eccentric person, if he does not altogether break down betimes. Formerly these rare qualities were usual, and were consequently regarded as common: they did not distinguish people. Perhaps they were demanded and presupposed; it was impossible to become great with them, for indeed there was also no danger of becoming insane and solitary with them. It is principally in the old-established families and castes of a people that such after-effects of old impulses present themselves, while there is no probability of such atavism where races, habits, and valuations change too rapidly. For the tempo of the evolutional forces in peoples implies just as much as in music; for our case an andante of evolution is absolutely necessary, as the tempo of a passionate and slow spirit: and the spirit of conserving families is certainly of that sort.
Credits
Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche

About “A kind of Atavism” by Friedrich Nietzsche

Read the complete lyrics to "A kind of Atavism" by Friedrich Nietzsche from the album "The Gay Science". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Philosophy, History.

"A kind of Atavism" is performed by Friedrich Nietzsche. from the album "The Gay Science" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A kind of Atavism", explore more songs by Friedrich Nietzsche using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Friedrich Nietzsche · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"A kind of Atavism" is credited to Friedrich Nietzsche. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A kind of Atavism" appears on "The Gay Science".

Visit the Friedrich Nietzsche artist page at /artist/friedrich-nietzsche for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.