A stubborn mule
can also leave footnotes
to embellish its path  

Friedrich Nietzsche

Beyond Good and Evil

Section one on the prejudices of philosophers

There is a point in every philosophy at which the “conviction” of the philosopher appears on the scene; or, to put it in the words of an ancient mystery

Adventavit asinus,

Pulcher et fortissimus.*

Translated by Helen Zimmern, 1909

 

* “The ass has arrived,

    Beautiful and most strong.”

The line comes from a medieval festival song in praise of a donkey. Nietzsche uses it sarcastically.