Q0072
“How one becomes what one is.” — Friedrich Nietzsche (Ecce Homo (subtitle; from Pindar))
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Ecce Homo (subtitle; from Pindar). Theme: self.
English
How one becomes what one is.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Ecce Homo (subtitle; from Pindar) and files it under Philosophy of Will. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a German classical philologist who became a radical critic of morality, metaphysics, and modern culture. Appointed professor at Basel at twenty-four, he resigned from ill health and wrote in solitude across Switzerland, Italy, and Germany.
How to read this passage
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self.
Concepts in this quote
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Friedrich Nietzsche. (n.d.). How one becomes what one is. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0072
MLA: Friedrich Nietzsche. “How one becomes what one is..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0072.
Chicago: Friedrich Nietzsche. “How one becomes what one is..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0072.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “How one becomes what one is.”?
The passage is attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche, Ecce Homo (subtitle; from Pindar). The archive attributes this English wording to Ecce Homo (subtitle; from Pindar) and files it under Philosophy of Will. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Friedrich Nietzsche mean by self?
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self.