It was a bit of a glib line, I'll admit.

However, did people like him, or just respect him? His relationship with Wagner didn't last. I wonder how many people were friendly towards him because he was such a towering intellect, but behind closed doors didn't particularly like him. And I don't blame them. Likable is not a word I'd use to describe him.

There's also the issue of communication range. I read somewhere that it's hard to be friends outside of the range of about 30 IQ points. And who was within that range for Nietzsche? Other geniuses. Few and far between.

Still, I agree I'd love to buy him a beer. But I suspect that we wouldn't make it a regular thing.