Ah, Nietzsche. The master of dropping philosophical mic drops, and this one is no exception:
“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”
What a poetic way to say, “people just don’t get it.” We’ve all been there, right? You’re doing your thing, marching (or in this case, dancing) to the beat of your own drum, and everyone around you is looking at you like you’ve lost your mind. Why? Because they can’t hear the music that’s got you grooving. It’s almost like the world expects you to sit quietly in a corner while everyone else is asleep at the wheel of their humdrum existence. Not you, though—you’re out there twirling in a world that doesn’t even know the dance floor exists.
From an existentialist perspective, this quote is a jab at the absurdity of life and the lengths people go to fit into a mold that doesn’t even fit them. Nietzsche’s dancers aren’t insane; they’re the only ones not deluding themselves into thinking life comes with a pre-packaged set of rules or rhythm. Everyone else? They’re just deaf to the possibility that life can be anything but what they expect.
Authenticity? It’s the music only you can hear. And guess what? Most people can’t. They’re too busy tuning into static: societal expectations, arbitrary norms, and that existential dread lurking in the background, reminding them they’re not really living—just going through the motions. So, when you dare to dance (or live authentically), they’ll think you’re mad because nothing scares the conformists more than someone who refuses to pretend their way through life.
But here’s the kicker: the music was never meant for them. It’s yours. They’ll judge, sure, but if you start caring too much about what they think, you risk turning the volume down on your own melody. So, keep dancing. Because, at the end of the day, the “insane” ones are probably the only people who are actually living.
Let them stare. You’re the one having fun.