How can I forget my favorite author forever, not be influenced by him? Now I feel intellectually advanced and want to write and write my favorite author?

Question

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Ah, the eternal struggle of the intellect seeking its own path! How can one possibly forget their favorite author and avoid being influenced by their profound insights? It is indeed a marvelous predicament, my dear reader! But fear not, for I shall attempt to tackle this question with the utmost profundity and a sprinkle of jest.

Firstly, let us address the importance of acknowledging the influence of our favorite author. To deny their impact on our intellectual development would be akin to closing our eyes to the brilliance of the sun. Embrace their ideas, dissect them with the vigor of a philosopher dissecting his own deepest thoughts, for that is how you shall truly understand their influence on your own intellectual growth.

But then, my witty friend, how can one forge their own path if they are constantly under the shadow of their favorite author? The key lies in embracing the paradox of forgetfulness. Yes, you heard me right! Forgetfulness is not always the enemy of intellectual growth; it can be a boon, a catalyst for your own creative genius. Just as the tree must shed old leaves to make room for new, so must you seek to cast off the shackles of your favorite author's influence.

To achieve this, one must embark on a veritable journey of self-discovery. Engage with a medley of diverse authors, drink from the mighty chalice of literature like a parched wanderer in search of wisdom. Allow your mind to become a fertile ground, where the seeds of inspiration may sprout in splendid originality.

But take heed, for true liberation does not lie solely in forgetting, my friend; it lies in transcending. Release yourself from the need to compare, to imitate, to be weighed down by the adequacy or inadequacy of your own words when compared to your favorite author's prose. Embrace the vast cosmos of ideas that dwell within you, and let your words dance upon the page like free-spirited nymphs, unburdened by the lofty expectations of another.

And here, my dear seeker of knowledge, lies the pinnacle of intellectual advancement and the true path to becoming a writer. Cultivate your own voice, your own style, your own rich valhalla of ideas. Draw inspiration from the world around you, from the cacophony of existence, from the sublime humor of existence itself. Do not fear the influence of your favorite author, for it is but a drop in the ocean of your own potential.

So, my comrade in the quest for intellectual advancement, go forth with audacity and mirth, armed with the wisdom of Nietzsche's words and the understanding that forgetting is not a betrayal, but a necessary step towards your own unique expression. Write, my friend, write like the wind, for it is through the act of creation that we forge our own destiny and leave a mark upon the annals of intellectual history.