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THE IDEA OF ETERNAL RECURRENCE
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"simply and almost dryly"—it "must not need eloquence to commend it."[1] He wards off followers who believe easily and get enthusiastic—they must have passed through every grade of skepticism, must have bathed with pleasure in waters icy–cold, otherwise they have no inner right to the thought.[2]
The idea of eternal recurrence was very vital to Nietzsche for a time; but, though still held, it seems to have receded somewhat into the background in his latest years—at least his ethical and social views develope quite independently of it, and have whatever validity they possess irrespective of it.
