Wisdom in a Nutshell: Aphorisms

Time: 45 minutes

Purpose: To promote vibrant discussion based on the reading of some of Friedrich Nietzsche's aphorisms. For learners to write aphorisms of their own.

Materials: A copy of the aphorisms below.

Preparation: None.

Lesson Outline:

Dictate
"You have to feel the chaos inside to give birth to a dancing star."

Ask the students to consider the aphorism carefully in silence.
Ask them to share their impressions in small groups.
Hold some plenary feedback.
Ask them to say what they think makes for a good aphorism.
Give out the list of aphorisms and ask them to choose their favourite.
Ask them to discuss their favourites in groups.
Give a list of themes such as love, friendship, learning, language etc and ask them to create aphorisms of their own.
As the students write their own aphorisms you do the same.
Pin the aphorisms up on the wall so that everyone can see one another's.
Ask them to comment upon ones that they like.

Nietzsche's aphorisms.

1. Convictions are more dangerous enemies of the truth than lies.
2. He who has the WHY to live has the WHEREFORE almost any HOW.
3. Life is an imperfect tense that never becomes the present.
4. Love is a state when man sees things most decidedly as they are not.
5. One is in greatest danger of being run over when one has just got out the way of a carriage.
6. I could never believe in a God that didn't know how to dance.
7. Laughter is the epigram on the death of an emotion.
8. In the end one loves one's desire and not what is desired.
9. We are like shop windows in which we are continually arranging. Concealing or illuminating the supposed qualities which others ascribe to us - in order to deceive ourselves.
10. Public opinions are the result of private laziness.

Variation:
In a monolingual class get the students to translate the aphorisms into their mother tongue and compare versions.