Human, All Too Human

Human, All Too Human
Refer to caption
Title page of first edition.
AuthorFriedrich Nietzsche
Original titleMenschliches, Allzumenschliches: Ein Buch für freie Geister
TranslatorAlexander Harvey (1st edition)[1]
LanguageGerman
PublishedApril 1878 (first part)
(Ernst Schmeitzner)[2]
Publication placeGermany
Published in English
1908[1]
Pages182 pp
OCLC3359010
LC ClassB3313.M53[1]
Preceded byUntimely Meditations (1873–1876) 
Followed byThe Dawn (1881) 
TextHuman, All Too Human at Wikisource

Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits (German: Menschliches, Allzumenschliches: Ein Buch für freie Geister) is a book by 19th-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, originally published in 1878. A second part, Assorted Opinions and Maxims (Vermischte Meinungen und Sprüche), was published in 1879, and a third part, The Wanderer and his Shadow (Der Wanderer und sein Schatten), followed in 1880.[3]

The book is Nietzsche's first in the aphoristic style that would come to dominate his writings, discussing a variety of concepts in short paragraphs or sayings. Reflecting an admiration of Voltaire as a free thinker, but also a break in his friendship with composer Richard Wagner two years earlier, Nietzsche dedicated the original 1878 edition of Human, All Too Human "to the memory of Voltaire on the celebration of the anniversary of his death, May 30, 1778". Instead of a preface, the first part originally included a quotation from Descartes's Discourse on the Method. Nietzsche later republished all three parts as a two-volume edition in 1886, adding a preface to each volume, and removing the Descartes quotation as well as the dedication to Voltaire.

  1. ^ a b c Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1878] 1908. Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits, translated by A. Harvey. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co. LCCN 08-7591. OCLC 3359010. HathiTrust: 001386232. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. ^ Brown, Malcolm (5 May 2011). "1878". Nietzsche Chronicle. Dartmouth College. Archived from the original on 11 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013. In late April [1878], Schmeitzner issues FN's new book, Menschlisches, Allzumenschliches; Ein Buch für freie Geister. Dem Andenken Voltaires geweiht zur Gedächtnisfeier seines Todestages, den 30. Mai 1778 [Human, All Too Human; a Book for Free Spirits. Dedicated to the memory of Voltaire on the commemoration of the day of his death, 30 May 1778]
  3. ^ Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1878] 1908. Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits, translated by A. Harvey. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co. LCCN 08-7591. OCLC 3359010. HathiTrust: 001386232. Retrieved 20 August 2020.