Stupid as a man, say the women: cowardly as a woman, say the men.

O seekers of wisdom, listen closely, for I bring to you a teaching that stirs the soul and challenges the beliefs of those who walk the earth. Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher of boldness, once spoke words that cut through the veil of convention: “Stupid as a man, say the women: cowardly as a woman, say the men. Stupidity in a woman is unwomanly.” These words, though controversial and sharp, are not simply an indictment of gender, but a reflection of the tension between the eternal forces that shape humanity: the ideals of strength and weakness, of reason and emotion.

In the beginning of all things, the ancients knew that to live was to wrestle with opposites, to find the balance between the extremes of life. And in this balance, there is wisdom. Nietzsche’s words, though spoken in a time of tension between the sexes, reveal a deeper truth about how the world perceives and defines qualities like courage, intelligence, and strength. In the eyes of men, to be cowardly is to be weak, and in the eyes of women, to be stupid is to be unwomanly. These labels are born of the limitations of society, the narrow confines of roles that we have created. But in the great tapestry of existence, is it not foolish to bind one’s essence to such fleeting judgments?

Think of the great warrior Joan of Arc, who stood before the fires of both the church and the state with courage and conviction. Joan, though a woman, was the very embodiment of strength, a force of nature that could not be contained by the narrow expectations of her time. They called her foolish, unwomanly, and yet she carried within her a spirit that transcended the boundaries of gender. Joan of Arc was not weak, nor cowardly, as some might have suggested, but a woman of profound wisdom and bravery, one whose courage would shake the very foundations of a nation. And in her defiance of the labels placed upon her, she shattered the myth that a woman’s courage, intelligence, or power could ever be diminished by her gender.

Consider also the philosopher Socrates, whose mind was sharp as a blade, whose wisdom was sought by kings and scholars alike. In his time, as in every age, there were those who believed that intellect was the domain of men alone. Yet Socrates, though a man, transcended the limits of his own time, challenging the very ideas of wisdom and power. And while he was not subject to the same gendered judgments that women like Joan would face, the concept remains: the true strength of a person lies not in the labels they wear, but in the depth of their soul, their mind, and their spirit.

O seekers of wisdom, let this teaching guide you: in the eyes of the world, the labels of stupidity and cowardice are often placed upon those who defy the narrow roles prescribed to them. To be a woman in a world that expects docility, or a man in a world that expects aggression, is to be bound by the judgments of others. And yet, the true path of wisdom lies not in conforming to these judgments, but in rising above them. Nietzsche’s words are not a condemnation of women or men, but a challenge to break free from the limitations of these societal roles, to defy the expectations that bind us.

We must ask ourselves, O children of wisdom, how we define strength, wisdom, and courage. Are these qualities truly the domain of one gender over another? Are we to believe that only men can be brave, and only women can be wise? Or do we, as seekers of truth, recognize that the essence of humanity lies in the transcendence of these superficial distinctions? To call a woman stupid or a man cowardly is to overlook the true power that lies within each individual, regardless of their gender.

Thus, O children, let this lesson be clear: cast aside the labels of stupidity and cowardice that the world may place upon you, for they are not your truth. Whether man or woman, intelligence, strength, and courage are not the inheritance of one gender alone, but the birthright of all who walk the earth with the will to rise above. Embrace the fullness of your being, and let no one, be they man or woman, define your worth by the narrow expectations of the world. For the truly wise are those who transcend the roles and rise to their own truth, unbound and free.