\Nietzsche never married. He proposed to Lou Salomé three times and each time was rejected.

[129]
 One theory blames Salomé's view on sexuality as one of the reasons for her alienation from
Nietzsche. As articulated in the 1898 novella Fenitschka, she viewed the idea of sexual intercourse
as prohibitive and marriage as a violation, with some suggesting that they indicated sexual
repression and neurosis .[130] Reflecting on unrequited love, Nietzsche considered that
"indispensable...to the lover is his unrequited love, which he would at no price relinquish for a state
of indifference."[131]
Deussen cited the episode of Cologne's brothel in February 1865 as instrumental to understand the
philosopher's way of thinking, mostly about women. Nietzsche was surreptitiously accompanied to a
"call house" from which he clumsily escaped upon seeing "a half dozen apparitions dressed with
sequins and veils". According to Deussen, Nietzsche "never decided to remain unmarried all his life.
For him women had to sacrifice themselves to the care and benefit of men." [132] Nietzsche
scholar Joachim Köhler [de] has attempted to explain Nietzsche's life history and philosophy by
claiming that he was homosexual. Köhler argues that Nietzsche's syphilis, which is "... usually
considered to be the product of his encounter with a prostitute in a brothel in Cologne or Leipzig, is
equally likely. Some maintain that Nietzsche contracted it in a male brothel in Genoa."[133] The
acquisition of the infection from a homosexual brothel was confirmed by Sigmund Freud, who cited
Otto Binswanger as his source.[134] Köhler also suggests Nietzsche may have had a romantic
relationship, as well as a friendship, with Paul Rée.[135] There is the claim that Nietzsche's
homosexuality was widely known in the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, with Nietzsche's friend Paul
Deussen claiming that "he was a man who had never touched a woman". [136][137]
Köhler's views have not found wide acceptance among Nietzsche scholars and commentators. Allan
Megill argues that, while Köhler's claim that Nietzsche was conflicted about his homosexual desire
cannot simply be dismissed, "the evidence is very weak", and Köhler may be projecting twentieth-
century understandings of sexuality on nineteenth-century notions of friendship. [135] It is also known
that Nietzsche frequented heterosexual brothels.[134] Nigel Rodgers and Mel Thompson have argued
that continuous sickness and headaches hindered Nietzsche from engaging much with women. Yet
they offer other examples in which Nietzsche expressed his affections to women, including Wagner's
wife Cosima Wagner.[138]
Other scholars have argued that Köhler's sexuality-based interpretation is not helpful in
understanding Nietzsche's philosophy.[139][140] However, there are also those who stress that, if
Nietzsche preferred men—with this preference constituting his psycho-sexual make-up—but could
not admit his desires to himself, it meant he acted in conflict with his philosophy. [141]
Nietzsche never married. He proposed to Lou Salomé three times and each time was rejected.
[129]
 One theory blames Salomé's view on sexuality as one of the reasons for her alienation from
Nietzsche. As articulated in the 1898 novella Fenitschka, she viewed the idea of sexual intercourse
as prohibitive and marriage as a violation, with some suggesting that they indicated sexual
repression and neurosis .[130] Reflecting on unrequited love, Nietzsche considered that
"indispensable...to the lover is his unrequited love, which he would at no price relinquish for a state
of indifference."[131]
Deussen cited the episode of Cologne's brothel in February 1865 as instrumental to understand the
philosopher's way of thinking, mostly about women. Nietzsche was surreptitiously accompanied to a
"call house" from which he clumsily escaped upon seeing "a half dozen apparitions dressed with
sequins and veils". According to Deussen, Nietzsche "never decided to remain unmarried all his life.
For him women had to sacrifice themselves to the care and benefit of men." [132] Nietzsche
scholar Joachim Köhler [de] has attempted to explain Nietzsche's life history and philosophy by
claiming that he was homosexual. Köhler argues that Nietzsche's syphilis, which is "... usually
considered to be the product of his encounter with a prostitute in a brothel in Cologne or Leipzig, is
equally likely. Some maintain that Nietzsche contracted it in a male brothel in Genoa."[133] The
acquisition of the infection from a homosexual brothel was confirmed by Sigmund Freud, who cited
Otto Binswanger as his source.[134] Köhler also suggests Nietzsche may have had a romantic
relationship, as well as a friendship, with Paul Rée.[135] There is the claim that Nietzsche's
homosexuality was widely known in the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, with Nietzsche's friend Paul
Deussen claiming that "he was a man who had never touched a woman". [136][137]
Köhler's views have not found wide acceptance among Nietzsche scholars and commentators. Allan
Megill argues that, while Köhler's claim that Nietzsche was conflicted about his homosexual desire
cannot simply be dismissed, "the evidence is very weak", and Köhler may be projecting twentieth-
century understandings of sexuality on nineteenth-century notions of friendship. [135] It is also known
that Nietzsche frequented heterosexual brothels.[134] Nigel Rodgers and Mel Thompson have argued
that continuous sickness and headaches hindered Nietzsche from engaging much with women. Yet
they offer other examples in which Nietzsche expressed his affections to women, including Wagner's
wife Cosima Wagner.[138]
Other scholars have argued that Köhler's sexuality-based interpretation is not helpful in
understanding Nietzsche's philosophy.[139][140] However, there are also those who stress that, if
Nietzsche preferred men—with this preference constituting his psycho-sexual make-up—but could
not admit his desires to himself, it meant he acted in conflict with his philosophy. [141]
Nietzsche never married. He proposed to Lou Salomé three times and each time was rejected.
[129]
 One theory blames Salomé's view on sexuality as one of the reasons for her alienation from
Nietzsche. As articulated in the 1898 novella Fenitschka, she viewed the idea of sexual intercourse
as prohibitive and marriage as a violation, with some suggesting that they indicated sexual
repression and neurosis .[130] Reflecting on unrequited love, Nietzsche considered that
"indispensable...to the lover is his unrequited love, which he would at no price relinquish for a state
of indifference."[131]
Deussen cited the episode of Cologne's brothel in February 1865 as instrumental to understand the
philosopher's way of thinking, mostly about women. Nietzsche was surreptitiously accompanied to a
"call house" from which he clumsily escaped upon seeing "a half dozen apparitions dressed with
sequins and veils". According to Deussen, Nietzsche "never decided to remain unmarried all his life.
For him women had to sacrifice themselves to the care and benefit of men." [132] Nietzsche
scholar Joachim Köhler [de] has attempted to explain Nietzsche's life history and philosophy by
claiming that he was homosexual. Köhler argues that Nietzsche's syphilis, which is "... usually
considered to be the product of his encounter with a prostitute in a brothel in Cologne or Leipzig, is
equally likely. Some maintain that Nietzsche contracted it in a male brothel in Genoa."[133] The
acquisition of the infection from a homosexual brothel was confirmed by Sigmund Freud, who cited
Otto Binswanger as his source.[134] Köhler also suggests Nietzsche may have had a romantic
relationship, as well as a friendship, with Paul Rée.[135] There is the claim that Nietzsche's
homosexuality was widely known in the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, with Nietzsche's friend Paul
Deussen claiming that "he was a man who had never touched a woman". [136][137]
Köhler's views have not found wide acceptance among Nietzsche scholars and commentators. Allan
Megill argues that, while Köhler's claim that Nietzsche was conflicted about his homosexual desire
cannot simply be dismissed, "the evidence is very weak", and Köhler may be projecting twentieth-
century understandings of sexuality on nineteenth-century notions of friendship. [135] It is also known
that Nietzsche frequented heterosexual brothels.[134] Nigel Rodgers and Mel Thompson have argued
that continuous sickness and headaches hindered Nietzsche from engaging much with women. Yet
they offer other examples in which Nietzsche expressed his affections to women, including Wagner's
wife Cosima Wagner.[138]
Other scholars have argued that Köhler's sexuality-based interpretation is not helpful in
understanding Nietzsche's philosophy.[139][140] However, there are also those who stress that, if
Nietzsche preferred men—with this preference constituting his psycho-sexual make-up—but could
not admit his desires to himself, it meant he acted in conflict with his philosophy. [141]
Nietzsche never married. He proposed to Lou Salomé three times and each time was rejected.
[129]
 One theory blames Salomé's view on sexuality as one of the reasons for her alienation from
Nietzsche. As articulated in the 1898 novella Fenitschka, she viewed the idea of sexual intercourse
as prohibitive and marriage as a violation, with some suggesting that they indicated sexual
repression and neurosis .[130] Reflecting on unrequited love, Nietzsche considered that
"indispensable...to the lover is his unrequited love, which he would at no price relinquish for a state
of indifference."[131]
Deussen cited the episode of Cologne's brothel in February 1865 as instrumental to understand the
philosopher's way of thinking, mostly about women. Nietzsche was surreptitiously accompanied to a
"call house" from which he clumsily escaped upon seeing "a half dozen apparitions dressed with
sequins and veils". According to Deussen, Nietzsche "never decided to remain unmarried all his life.
For him women had to sacrifice themselves to the care and benefit of men." [132] Nietzsche
scholar Joachim Köhler [de] has attempted to explain Nietzsche's life history and philosophy by
claiming that he was homosexual. Köhler argues that Nietzsche's syphilis, which is "... usually
considered to be the product of his encounter with a prostitute in a brothel in Cologne or Leipzig, is
equally likely. Some maintain that Nietzsche contracted it in a male brothel in Genoa."[133] The
acquisition of the infection from a homosexual brothel was confirmed by Sigmund Freud, who cited
Otto Binswanger as his source.[134] Köhler also suggests Nietzsche may have had a romantic
relationship, as well as a friendship, with Paul Rée.[135] There is the claim that Nietzsche's
homosexuality was widely known in the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, with Nietzsche's friend Paul
Deussen claiming that "he was a man who had never touched a woman". [136][137]
Köhler's views have not found wide acceptance among Nietzsche scholars and commentators. Allan
Megill argues that, while Köhler's claim that Nietzsche was conflicted about his homosexual desire
cannot simply be dismissed, "the evidence is very weak", and Köhler may be projecting twentieth-
century understandings of sexuality on nineteenth-century notions of friendship. [135] It is also known
that Nietzsche frequented heterosexual brothels.[134] Nigel Rodgers and Mel Thompson have argued
that continuous sickness and headaches hindered Nietzsche from engaging much with women. Yet
they offer other examples in which Nietzsche expressed his affections to women, including Wagner's
wife Cosima Wagner.[138]
Other scholars have argued that Köhler's sexuality-based interpretation is not helpful in
understanding Nietzsche's philosophy.[139][140] However, there are also those who stress that, if
Nietzsche preferred men—with this preference constituting his psycho-sexual make-up—but could
not admit his desires to himself, it meant he acted in conflict with his philosophy. [141]
Nietzsche never married. He proposed to Lou Salomé three times and each time was rejected.
[129]
 One theory blames Salomé's view on sexuality as one of the reasons for her alienation from
Nietzsche. As articulated in the 1898 novella Fenitschka, she viewed the idea of sexual intercourse
as prohibitive and marriage as a violation, with some suggesting that they indicated sexual
repression and neurosis .[130] Reflecting on unrequited love, Nietzsche considered that
"indispensable...to the lover is his unrequited love, which he would at no price relinquish for a state
of indifference."[131]
Deussen cited the episode of Cologne's brothel in February 1865 as instrumental to understand the
philosopher's way of thinking, mostly about women. Nietzsche was surreptitiously accompanied to a
"call house" from which he clumsily escaped upon seeing "a half dozen apparitions dressed with
sequins and veils". According to Deussen, Nietzsche "never decided to remain unmarried all his life.
For him women had to sacrifice themselves to the care and benefit of men." [132] Nietzsche
scholar Joachim Köhler [de] has attempted to explain Nietzsche's life history and philosophy by
claiming that he was homosexual. Köhler argues that Nietzsche's syphilis, which is "... usually
considered to be the product of his encounter with a prostitute in a brothel in Cologne or Leipzig, is
equally likely. Some maintain that Nietzsche contracted it in a male brothel in Genoa."[133] The
acquisition of the infection from a homosexual brothel was confirmed by Sigmund Freud, who cited
Otto Binswanger as his source.[134] Köhler also suggests Nietzsche may have had a romantic
relationship, as well as a friendship, with Paul Rée.[135] There is the claim that Nietzsche's
homosexuality was widely known in the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, with Nietzsche's friend Paul
Deussen claiming that "he was a man who had never touched a woman". [136][137]
Köhler's views have not found wide acceptance among Nietzsche scholars and commentators. Allan
Megill argues that, while Köhler's claim that Nietzsche was conflicted about his homosexual desire
cannot simply be dismissed, "the evidence is very weak", and Köhler may be projecting twentieth-
century understandings of sexuality on nineteenth-century notions of friendship. [135] It is also known
that Nietzsche frequented heterosexual brothels.[134] Nigel Rodgers and Mel Thompson have argued
that continuous sickness and headaches hindered Nietzsche from engaging much with women. Yet
they offer other examples in which Nietzsche expressed his affections to women, including Wagner's
wife Cosima Wagner.[138]
Other scholars have argued that Köhler's sexuality-based interpretation is not helpful in
understanding Nietzsche's philosophy.[139][140] However, there are also those who stress that, if
Nietzsche preferred men—with this preference constituting his psycho-sexual make-up—but could
not admit his desires to himself, it meant he acted in conflict with his philosophy. [141]
Nietzsche never married. He proposed to Lou Salomé three times and each time was rejected.
[129]
 One theory blames Salomé's view on sexuality as one of the reasons for her alienation from
Nietzsche. As articulated in the 1898 novella Fenitschka, she viewed the idea of sexual intercourse
as prohibitive and marriage as a violation, with some suggesting that they indicated sexual
repression and neurosis .[130] Reflecting on unrequited love, Nietzsche considered that
"indispensable...to the lover is his unrequited love, which he would at no price relinquish for a state
of indifference."[131]
Deussen cited the episode of Cologne's brothel in February 1865 as instrumental to understand the
philosopher's way of thinking, mostly about women. Nietzsche was surreptitiously accompanied to a
"call house" from which he clumsily escaped upon seeing "a half dozen apparitions dressed with
sequins and veils". According to Deussen, Nietzsche "never decided to remain unmarried all his life.
For him women had to sacrifice themselves to the care and benefit of men." [132] Nietzsche
scholar Joachim Köhler [de] has attempted to explain Nietzsche's life history and philosophy by
claiming that he was homosexual. Köhler argues that Nietzsche's syphilis, which is "... usually
considered to be the product of his encounter with a prostitute in a brothel in Cologne or Leipzig, is
equally likely. Some maintain that Nietzsche contracted it in a male brothel in Genoa."[133] The
acquisition of the infection from a homosexual brothel was confirmed by Sigmund Freud, who cited
Otto Binswanger as his source.[134] Köhler also suggests Nietzsche may have had a romantic
relationship, as well as a friendship, with Paul Rée.[135] There is the claim that Nietzsche's
homosexuality was widely known in the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, with Nietzsche's friend Paul
Deussen claiming that "he was a man who had never touched a woman". [136][137]
Köhler's views have not found wide acceptance among Nietzsche scholars and commentators. Allan
Megill argues that, while Köhler's claim that Nietzsche was conflicted about his homosexual desire
cannot simply be dismissed, "the evidence is very weak", and Köhler may be projecting twentieth-
century understandings of sexuality on nineteenth-century notions of friendship. [135] It is also known
that Nietzsche frequented heterosexual brothels.[134] Nigel Rodgers and Mel Thompson have argued
that continuous sickness and headaches hindered Nietzsche from engaging much with women. Yet
they offer other examples in which Nietzsche expressed his affections to women, including Wagner's
wife Cosima Wagner.[138]
Other scholars have argued that Köhler's sexuality-based interpretation is not helpful in
understanding Nietzsche's philosophy.[139][140] However, there are also those who stress that, if
Nietzsche preferred men—with this preference constituting his psycho-sexual make-up—but could
not admit his desires to himself, it meant he acted in conflict with his philosophy. [141]