'In essence, what Nietzsche is saying is this: the things we long to do and accomplish - the kind of person we might hope to become - are in fact within reach. But the path to each of those goals has this difficulty to it: it is a path that involves suffering, annoyance with oneself, disappointment, envy and frustration. He is saying that it is always through such pains that good things emerge. They do not occur as matters of spontaneous luck. Looking on from the outside at what we admire (a successful person) we see the effect. But we do not usually also get the chance to closely observe the evolutionary history. We don't see the nights of anguish, the fears, the insecurity. Such insight, however, is strangely heartening. It helps us to see that suffering is not a sign of failing to be the best version of oneself, but a necessary part of the process of becoming who we want to - and should - be.'
p. 18
John Armstrong, 2013, Life lessons from Nietzsche, Macmillan, London.
