The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is remembered for many things, but one of his most famous lines is: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Nietzsche had a distinctive way of writing — he loved the oxymoron. An oxymoron pairs two opposing ideas to reveal a deeper truth. Nietzsche used them to jolt the reader into paying attention, forcing them to think twice. Phrases like “wise fool,” “joyful wisdom,” “sacred lie” or even “living death” sound impossible at first, but they make you stop, wonder, and think.

Running has its own “wise fool” moments — paradoxes that sound wrong until you live them:

    Run slow to run fast.
    Rest to get stronger.
    Shorten your stride to go farther.

Each of these is a contradiction — and each works. Like Nietzsche’s oxymorons, they challenge you to look past the surface and find the truth hiding inside the tension.

What’s your favorite running oxymoron?

Best wishes on chasing your running goals! 

-George