An extreme, unconditional human yearning was expressed for the first time by Nietzsche independently of moral goals or of serving God. ... Ardor that doesn't address a dramatically articulated moral obligation is a paradox. ... If we stop looking at states of ardor as simply preliminary to other and subsequent conditions grasped as beneficial, the state I propose seems a pure play of lightning, merely an empty consummation. Lacking any relation to material benefits such as power or the growth of the state (or of God or a Church or a party), this consuming can't even be comprehended. ... I'll have to face the same difficulties as Nietzsche-putting God and the good behind him, though all ablaze with the ardor possessed by those who lay down their lives for God or the good. ... I'll admit that moral investigations that aim to surpass the good lead first of all to disorder. (Georges Bataille)

An extreme, unconditional human yearning was expressed for the first time by Nietzsche independently of moral goals or of serving God. ... Ardor that doesn't address a dramatically articulated moral obligation is a paradox. ... If we stop looking at states of ardor as simply preliminary to other and subsequent conditions grasped as beneficial, the state I propose seems a pure play of lightning, merely an empty consummation. Lacking any relation to material benefits such as power or the growth of the state (or of God or a Church or a party), this consuming can't even be comprehended. ... I'll have to face the same difficulties as Nietzsche-putting God and the good behind him, though all ablaze with the ardor possessed by those who lay down their lives for God or the good. ... I'll admit that moral investigations that aim to surpass the good lead first of all to disorder.

Georges Bataille

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aim articulated behind church consuming consummation difficulties empty face good human lay lead lives lightning looking paradox party play power propose pure state stop subsequent time unconditional nietzsche states

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