How long have I had the intention to express, for once unreservedly, what degree of gratitude I feel toward you; because in fact the best and loftiest moments of my life are connected with your name and I know of only one other man, your great spiritual brother Arthur Schopenhauer,1 whom I think of with equal reverence, indeed religione quadam.2 I am glad that I am able to confess this to you on a festive day3 and do so not without a feeling of pride. For if it is the lot of genius to be for a while only paucorum hominum,4 then these pauci may surely feel themselves especially fortunate and privileged because it is granted to them to see the light and to warm themselves by it, while the crowd is still standing and freezing in the cold fog. Also the enjoyment of genius does not fall into the lap of these few without any trouble, rather they have to fight boldly against powerful prejudices and their own proclivities; so that if, in the end, they are fortunate in battle, they have a sort of conqueror's right to the genius.

Now I have dared to count myself among the number of these pauci, after I realized how incapable almost the entire world with which one associates has shown itself to be, when it is imperative to comprehend your personality as a whole, to feel the consistent, deeply ethical current that passes through your life, writings, and music, in brief, to sense the ambiance of a more serious and soulful worldview such as we poor Germans have lost through all sorts of political calamities, philosophical mischief and obtrusive Jewry. My thanks are due to you and Schopenhauer if I have till now held fast to the Germanic seriousness about life, to a more profound contemplation of this so mysterious and questionable existence.5

How many purely scientific problems have been gradually made clear to me by relating them to your so solitary and remarkably poised personality; I would rather tell this to you one day in person; what I also wish is that I would not have to write everything I have just written. How I would have liked to show up today at your lake and mountain solitude,6 had not the tiresome chain of my profession kept me in my kennel in Basel.

Finally I would also like to express my best wishes to Baroness von Bülow7 and be permitted to sign

as your most faithful
and devoted disciple
and admirer
Dr Nietzsche
Prof. in Basel.

1. Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860): German philosopher. See his entry in Nietzsche's Library.
2. In a kind of religious manner.
3. Richard Wagner's birthday. Nietzsche had to turn down an invitation to attend the birthday party due to his teaching duties.
4. "For the few." Cf. Horace, Satires, 1, 9, 44: "paucorum hominum et mentis bene sanae" (He's a man of sound mind and few friends). In addition, see Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation, 2, Preface to the First Edition: "wie man denn, frägt der entrüstete Leser, zu Ende kommen solle, wenn man mit einem Buche so umständlich zu Werke gehen müßte? Da ich gegen solche Vorwürfe nicht das Mindeste vorzubringen habe, hoffe ich nur auf einigen Dank bei diesen Lesern dafür, daß ich sie bei Zeiten gewarnt habe, damit sie keine Stunde verlieren mit einem Buche, dessen Durchlesung ohne Erfüllung der gemachten Forderungen nicht fruchten könnte und daher ganz zu unterlassen ist, zumal da auch sonst gar Vieles zu wetten, daß es ihnen nicht zusagen kann, daß es vielmehr immer nur paucorum hominum sehn wird und daher gelassen und bescheiden auf die Wenigen warten muß, deren ungewöhnliche Denkungsart es genießbar fände." (How are we to reach the end, asks the indignant reader, if we must set to work on a book with so much trouble and detail? As I have not the least thing to say in reply to such reproaches, I hope only for some gratitude from such readers for having warned them in time, so that they may not waste an hour on a book which it would be useless for them to read unless they complied with the demands I make, and which is therefore to be left alone, especially as on other grounds one could wager a great deal that it can say nothing to them, but on the contrary will always be only paucorum hominum, and must therefore wait in calm and modesty for the few whose unusual mode of thought might find it readable.)
5. It is telling that Nietzsche went on to abandon Schopenhauer and all German "seriousness," not to mention his changed opinions on "obtrusive Jewry." One can certainly make the case that this was due in part to his break with Wagner.
6. Wagner's home in Tribschen.
7. Cosima Wagner left Hans von Bülow for Wagner. They had two children while she was still married to Bülow.

Franziska Nietzsche.
From tinted photo, 1866.
Colorized and enhanced image ©The Nietzsche Channel.

Basel, mid-June 1869:
Letter to Franziska Nietzsche.

Dear mother

Now let your son, the free Swiss, once again tell you some admittedly pleasant and good news, nothing but "milk and wild honey": a metaphor that brings us quite close to our customary Swiss breakfast. Of course it is quite a different life that I live here; no more of that sovereign disposition, of contempt for the quotidian. Rather, I feel quite clearly how even the most desirable activity, when it is conducted "officially" and "professionally," is a chain on which we sometimes pull impatiently. And then I really envy my friend Rohde, who wanders about the Campagna and Etruria, free as a wild animal.1 Most annoying to me, as you can imagine, are the horrible masses of "esteemed" colleagues who try dutifully to invite me night after night: so that I am already inventive in declining invitations in a very clever way. As for the rest, people are well disposed towards me. And whoever has received my arrival on site with some resentment,2 has now either accepted the inevitable or even on closer acquaintance with me felt the reason for his resentment vanish. Especially important in this respect was my inaugural address that I gave just recently in front of a very full auditorium, namely on "The Personality of Homer." As a result of this inaugural address people here have been convinced of various things, and among them my appointment, as I clearly recognized, was assured. — I would be much more content if I had my friend Rohde here: because it's annoying having to reacquire an intimate friend and counselor, as a requisite of my household.

Other than that I probably already mentioned to you my colleague Bur[c]khardt, a brilliant art historian and likewise the political economist Schönberg,3 commonly known as estimable men.

Of utmost importance, however, is that I indeed have the most sought-after friend and neighbor in Lucerne, admittedly not close enough but only so far that every day off can be used to get together. It is Richard Wagner, who as a man is absolutely of equal greatness and singularity as an artist. Together with him and the brilliant Frau von Bülow (Liszt's daughter), I now have spent several happy days, e.g. this past Saturday and Sunday.4 Wagner's villa, located on Lake Lucerne at the base of Mount Pilatus in an enchanting lake and mountain solitude, is, as you can imagine, splendidly furnished: we spend time there together with the most stimulating conversation, in the most amiable family circle and quite removed from ordinary social triviality. It is a great discovery for me.

That's it for today. I would be very grateful if, through your substantive and affectionate letters, you would keep me well informed about your health and all that concerns me: because I live on an island. My best regards to my dear relatives in whose midst you live, the same to cousin Rudolf.5 I await a note about Lisbeth's birthday wishes.6

F. N.

1. Erwin Rohde spent over a year in central and southern Italy, engaging in philological pursuits. See Otto Crusius, Erwin Rohde. Ein biographischer Versuch. Tübingen; Leipzig: Mohr, 1902:33-37.
2. Nietzsche was appointed without a doctorate.
3. Gustav von Schönberg (1839-1908) was appointed professor of economics at Basel in 1868.
4. During which time Siegfried Wagner was born.
5. Franziska Nietzsche's sister Ida Schenkel (1833-?); her husband Moritz (1834-1909), pastor at Cainsdorf, near Dresden; his brother Rudolf Schenkel (1844-1889), a lawyer. Franziska Nietzsche was also the aunt of Emma Patz, Ida's daughter, who lived in Oelsnitz with her husband Robert.
6. His sister's birthday was July 10.

Wilhelm Pinder.
From tinted photo taken by:
Ferdinand Henning, Naumburg, ca. 1863.1
Colorized and enhanced image ©The Nietzsche Channel.

Basel, July 4, 1869:
Letter to Wilhelm Pinder.2

Dear Wilhelm,

The first sign of life that you receive from me now in Basel is indeed a birthday letter.3 Here one can see what a demoralizing influence such an office4 has: one learns to neglect one's most sacred duties, the duties of friendship. Today, however, when a glance at the calendar makes me realize the injustice I have committed, I feel compelled to ask you for absolution, which of course I would like best to do verbally and personally, bearing in mind that solemn Rütliscene5 on the Naumburg pavement and the mutual promise made there to meet again in Basel as soon as possible for the purpose of a good breakfast and other serious matters.

Today during dinner let us make a toast to this refreshing prospect, each with the wine of his homeland.6

I should think that after the storms and excitement of your profession,7 you should often long to take a break in an alpine valley, away from murderers and other rascals. But you must always inform me of such plans first: for I am now the Alpine Guide for all my friends, who will receive them at the Swiss border and who will make it his business to present his new fatherland with its beauties in the way it deserves.

I make these recommendations in this new capacity, at the same time with best wishes for your well-being and our friendship, finally with many affectionate greetings to Gustav and your dear relatives

I am
Your old friend
Dr Fritz Nietzsche
Professor in Basel.

1. See GSA 101/376 (unavailable). Carl Ferdinand Henning (1832-?): German portraitist and photographer with a studio at Topfmarkt 14, Naumburg. Henning took 5 photographs of Nietzsche from 1862-1868, and reproduced a photo taken at the 1871 Leipzig Book Fair, depicting Erwin Rohde, Carl von Gersdorff, and Nietzsche. In 1862, Henning took three photos of Nietzsche. Nietzsche then ordered 2 sets of the three photos, making six in total. The Nietzsche Channel owns one of the 1862 photos (another copy is at GSA 101/3).
2. Wilhelm Pinder (1844-1928): Nietzsche's childhood friend in Naumburg, and member, with Gustav Krug (1844-1902), of their literary club, "Germania." See Nietzsche's Writings as a Student. The Nietzsche Channel, 2012. This letter was recently put up for auction in September 2020, but went unsold, failing to meet a reserve price. The Nietzsche Archive only has a transcription.
3. Pinder's birthday was July 6.
4. Nietzsche was the newly-appointed professor of classical philology at Basel University.
5. An allusion to the oath taken at Rütli by the representatives of the three founding cantons of Switzerland in 1307. Probably refers to Nietzsche, Pinder, and Krug — who as boys took an oath for the founding of "Germania" — planning to get together in Basel to celebrate Nietzsche's professorship.
6. Nietzsche gave up his German citizenship in order to work in Switzerland.
7. Pinder became an attorney in Naumburg.

Erwin Rohde.
As a student.
From b/w photo, ca. 1860s.
Colorized and enhanced image ©The Nietzsche Channel.

Naumburg, October 7, 1869:
Letter to Erwin Rohde.

Salvation and Blessings Ahead!

The heading of the letter shows you what luxuriance I have been afforded, the warmth of home1 and abundance of memories.

Outside the window lies the thoughtful autumn in the clear, gently warming sunlight, the Nordic autumn, which I love as much as my very best friends because it is so mature and unconsciously without desire. Fruit falls from the tree without a gust of wind.

And so it is with the love of friends: without warning, without buffeting, in silence it falls to the ground and delights. It does not desire anything for itself and it gives everything of itself.

Now compare horribly greedy sexual love2 with friendship!

I should also think that someone who truly loves the autumn, few friends and solitude can prophesy a great, fruitfully happy autumn of life.

"Therefore tolerate that the Fates spin an
"Autumn for me, lovely and long
"Out of half-cooled sunshine
"And idleness."3

But you know what idleness we mean: we have already lived together as genuine σχολαστικοί4 i.e. idlers.

And what prevents us from hoping that the autumn of our lives will bring us together again?

Let this be a wish and a hope, expressed on the anniversary of your birth,5 but always and forever carried in our hearts.!

From here I am visiting the old memorable sites in Leipzig, and Romundt informs me6 in a friendly way that he has already arrived there so as not to miss me. I wrote to you that he has accepted my invitation to experience the start of the winter semester in Basel, and that we want to settle together the difficult question of his future position there.7 Write me your opinion: as I know him now, after the wonderful development of the last year, I consider him to be entirely worthy of the prospect of a philosophy chair. Mind you, the prospect! He will have to do a lot to systematically master entire philosophical disciplines. And it may take many years to get through.

By the way, I therefore wish for our meeting so eagerly because a whole host of aesthetic problems and answers have been brewing within me for the past few years, and the scope of a letter is too narrow for me to be able to explain anything about them to you. I will use the opportunity of public lectures8 to elaborate on small parts of the system, as I did, e.g., in my inaugural lecture.9 Of course, Wagner is beneficial to me in the highest sense, primarily as an exemplar who is incomprehensible from current aesthetics. Above all, it is necessary to go boldly beyond Lessing's Laocoon:10 something one can barely express without inner anxiety and shame.

Windisch has now qualified as a professor:11 [the] Brockhauses12 visited me in Basel, and we also spent a day together in Tribschen.13 Ritschl and his wife have an incredible love and esteem for me: which I am divulging to you in order to please you. They are extremely liberal people, with a lot of their own strength: they honor themselves when they accept what is different so freely and happily.

And I myself would be very surprised if you did not judge yourself in the same way. Philologists must feel that we are good friends and yet different from everyone else. Isn't that true? Dearest friend?

F.N.

I am here until October 17th. — The beautiful and useful collation of the certamen15 is a real friendly turn! God, that such excellent friends like you accept manuscript slavery and similar horrors for my sake!!

1. Nietzsche was spending his autumn vacation at home in Naumburg from October 4-18.
2. Geschlechtsliebe (sexual love). Cf. Arthur Schopenhauer, "Metaphysik der Geschlechtsliebe." In: Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung. Bd. 2. Leipzig: Brockhaus, 1873, 607-651.
3. See Hans Hopfen (1835-1904), "An eine Freundin." In: Ernst Dohm and Julius Rodenberg (eds.), Salon für Literatur, Kunst und Gesellschaft. Bd. 2. Leipzig: Payne, 326. Reprinted in Hans Hopfen, Gedichte. Berlin: Hofmann, 1883, 88-89. Hopfen was a German-Jewish poet and novelist who eventually settled in Munich, where he belonged to the society of poets called, Die Krokodile. After 1866, Hopfen worked as a freelance writer in Berlin. Nietzsche first read Hopfen's poem when it was published in 1868 (cf. Naumburg, 10-08-1868: letter to Erwin Rohde in Hamburg). See "New Sources of Nietzsche's Reading: Hans Hopfen." In: Nietzsche's Library.
4. Academic scholars.
5. Erwin Rohde was born on October 9, 1845.
6. Cf. Leipzig, 10-07-1869: Letter from Heinrich Romundt to Nietzsche in Naumburg. Heinrich Romundt (1845-1919): their friend and classmate at the University of Leipzig. Romundt left Basel on 04-10-1875 planning to become a Catholic priest, but soon dropped those plans and became a high-school teacher in Oldenburg.
7. Ibid.
8. See Nietzsche's "Zwei öffentliche Vorträge über die griechische Tragödie" ("Two Public Lectures on Greek Tragedy") held in 1870: "Das griechische Musikdrama" (The Greek Music Drama), 01-18-1870; and "Sokrates und die Tragoedie" (Socrates and Tragedy), 02-01-1870.
9. See Nietzsche's inaugural lecture "Über die Persönlichkeit Homers" (On the Personality of Homer), 05-28-1869. 10. Cf. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781): German writer, dramatist, and critic. See Lessing's critical essay on aesthetics, "Laokoon oder über die Grenzen der Malerei und Poesie," 1766.
11. Ernst Wilhelm Oskar Windisch (1844-1918): Nietzsche's friend and colleague at Leipzig. See Windisch's Habilitationsschrift: Untersuchungen über den Ursprung des Relativpronomens in den indogermanischen Sprachen. In: Studien zur griechischen und lateinischen Grammatik, hrsg. von Georg Curtius. Bd. 2. Leipzig: Hirzel, 1869, 201-419.
12. Hermann (1806-1877) and Ottilie Brockhaus (1811-1883), the latter being Richard Wagner's sister, through whom Nietzsche first met Wagner.
13. August 28, 1869.
14. Sophie Ritschl (1820-?) who was also a friend of Ottilie Brockhaus.
15. "Certamen Homeri et Hesiodi" (Contest of Homer and Hesiod).