Sometimes you read or hear something and it stands out to you. All of these quotes when I first heard them really helped highlight a timeless truth and stood out to me. They also go against the modern “current” of thought and action that trends in a downward direction and instead seeks to lift man up to his strongest and highest aspiration. It calls for men to better, stronger, and greater than they are and to not be okay with being weak or being a failure. These quotes come from a wide variety of men. But their spirit echoes the same spirit. They are cut from the same cloth as I and those I respect.
In a society that as far as the mainstream goes is completely absent of strength and honor we often have to look to the dead for guidance. Their words reach out from beyond the grave and can inspire a fire in our hearts. A fire that for many has been dead for a long time. We should all strive in both words and deeds to be an example for those that come after us, to become legends that will inspire and keep the flame lit for centuries if not millennia. We may never attain that but to strive towards it is the most noble of goals. Now let’s get to the quotes.
Yukio Mishima – Hero Worship
The cynicism that regards hero worship as comical is always shadowed by a sense of physical inferiority
-Yukio Mishima
Physical inferiority is the source of many problems in our age. There are many things that our modern world consider “comic” simply because they have never seen it and are too weak of soul to understand it. Things like strength, honor, and the attainment of greatness. All things that the veneration of heroes accomplishes. A society that does not hail its heroes is a society of weakness that will soon crumble. As I mentioned above great men reach out to us from beyond the grave beckoning us to become greater, to become stronger, and to become more than we are.
With their deeds and words they lay down what is possible and then point you to something greater. Cynicism is another type of weakness designed for the man without a heart or balls to feel superior. We all need heroes be they real and personal or those of legend and fiction to inspire us to that next level and become greater than we are. Love of heroism leads to heroic action. It leads to developing men of action who sculpt the world with their iron wills. Men that the modern world fears and should.
Julius Evola – Blood Of The Heroes
The blood of the heroes is closer to God than the ink of the philosophers and the prayers of the faithful
-Julius Evola
I remember in school and church men who were not warriors being held up as heroes. Maybe they were priests, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs, or the like and why I certainly understand that they do good in this world and deserve some semblance of respect at the same time I believe it brings dishonor to the word hero to use it on them. Heroes are men of action, men whose blood is spilt and who spill blood. Blood is stronger than ink or words that vanish into nothingness. A bond of blood runs deeper than a bond of ink, all know this.
And the gods see this and reward this. While the philosophers, priests, and others may get a nod in the afterlife the heroic warriors will get a feast and a place of honor. Prayers have a purpose yes, as does ink and words, but none come close to the glory of action. The crusader will always be more than the priest and the warrior always more than the philosopher in the eternal order. Some will never get this because their spirit is inferior while to others this will speak deeply.
Friedrich Nietzsche – Terrible Greatness
Terribleness is part of greatness, let us not deceive ourselves
-Friedrich Nietzsche
The basis of respect is fear, not love. You cannot be great without also being terrible (in the traditional sense). Terrible meaning striking fear into your enemies in the same way the God of the old testament is described as terrible. A being of immense power and strength who will crush his enemies utterly and completely, a terrible sight to behold. No man who does not strike fear can consider himself great. I know there are many definitions the modern world throws around about what is considered “great” but I would encourage you to not be misled by their lies.
They’ll tell you the sheep or rat is just as great as the lion or wolf in it’s own unique way but anyone with a soul knows this to be otherwise. There are superior and there are inferior. Believing strength is weakness or weakness is strength only does a disservice to yourself and those around you. There is no respect without fear and there is no fear without having the strength and the will to harm and destroy your enemies. There is no way around this. Hate it, fight it, but it’s the truth and the best thing to do with the truth is embrace it and apply its often harsh lessons.
Timeless Lessons From The Past
All of these men are dead but their words still reach out and speak to us today. They give us strength and guidance and touch the common spirit within us. The spirit of blood, rage, fire, and strength, the spirit of masculinity. Look anywhere you can for that spark and that like minded spirit. All of these men left behind quite a few works that are worth checking out as did many more before and after them. Connect yourself with that current of power and harness it to help spur you on to greatness.
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-Charles Sledge
