“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.”Friedrich Nietzsche · Dincolo de bine și de rău · 1886 · Dincolo de bine și de rău, § 146
Fighting evil can turn you into the monster you fight
Nietzsche warns that fighting against something evil can turn you into what you despise. The mechanism is subtle: to defeat a monster, you might start using violence, lies, or hatred—exactly its weapons. And the 'abyss' symbolizes obsession: if you focus too much on a danger or enemy, you end up internalizing its nature. For example, an activist fighting corruption may become corrupt themselves, justifying any means by the end.
Why it matters It's a useful warning in personal or political conflicts: it forces you to maintain your integrity and not become what you fight. In an age of polarization, it guards against radicalization.