The duel is the last
means of thoroughly honourable suicide left to us;
but it is unfortunately a circuitous means, and not
even a certain one.
means of thoroughly honourable suicide left to us;
but it is unfortunately a circuitous means, and not
even a certain one.
Nietzsche - v09 - The Dawn of Day
251
a change of diet and severe manual labour; but in
such cases men are in the habit of having recourse
to mental intoxicants, to art for example—which is
both to their own detriment and that of art! Can
you not see that when you call for art as sick people
you make the artists themselves sick?
270.
Apparent Toleration. — Those are good,
benevolent, and rational words on and in favour of
science, but, alas! I see behind these words your
toleration of science. In a corner of your inmost
mind you think, in spite of all you say, that it is
not necessary for you, that it shows magnanimity on
your part to admit and even to advocate it, more
especially as science on its part does not exhibit
this magnanimity in regard to your opinion! Do
you know that you have no right whatever toexercise
this toleration? that this condescension of yours
is an even coarser disparagement of science than
any of that open scorn which a presumptuous priest
or artist might allow himself to indulge in towards
science? What is lacking in you is a strong sense
for everything that is true and actual, you do not
feel grieved and worried to find that science is in
contradiction to your own sentiments, you are un-
acquainted with that intense desire for knowledge
ruling over you like a law, you do not feel a duty
in the need of being present with your own eyes
wherever knowledge exists, and to let nothing that
is " known " escape you. You do not know that
which you are treating with such toleration! and
## p. 252 (#332) ############################################
252 THE DAWN OF DAY.
it is only because you do not know it that you can
succeed in adopting such a gracious attitude towards
it. You, forsooth, would look upon science with
hatred and fanaticism if it for once cast its shining
and illuminating glance upon you! What does it
matter to us, then, if you do exhibit toleration—and
towards a phantom! and not even towards us ! —
and what do we matter!
271.
Festive Moods. —It is exactly those men who
aspire most ardently towards power who feel it in-
describably agreeable to be overpowered! to sink
suddenly and deeply into a feeling as into a whirl-
pool! To suffer the reins to be snatched out of
their hand, and to watch a movement which takes
them they know not where! Whatever or who-
ever may be the person or thing that renders us
this service, it is nevertheless a great service: we
are so happy and breathless, and feel around us
an exceptional silence, as if we were in the most
central bowels of the earth. To be for once entirely
powerless! the plaything of the elementary forces
of nature! There is a restfulness in this happi-
ness, a casting away of the great burden, a descent
without fatigue, as if one had been given up to the
blind force of gravity.
This is the dream of the mountain climber, who,
although he sees his goal far above him, neverthe-
less Calls asleep on the way from utter exhaustion,
and dreams of the happiness of the contrast—this
effortless rolling down hill. I describe happiness
## p. 253 (#333) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 253
as I imagine it to be in our present-day society,
the badgered, ambitious society of Europe and
America. Now and then they wish to fall back
into impotence—this enjoyment is offered them
by wars, arts, religions, and geniuses. When a man
has temporarily abandoned himself to a moment-
ary impression which devours and crushes every-
thing—and this is the modern festive mood—he
afterwards becomes freer, colder, more refreshed,
and more strict, and again strives tirelessly after
the contrary of all this: power.
272.
The Purification of Races. —It is probable
that there are no pure races, but only races which
have become purified, and even these are extremely
rare. * We more often meet with crossed races,
among whom, together with the defects in the har-
mony of the bodily forms (for example when the
eyes do not accord with the mouth) we necessarily
always find defects of harmony in habits and ap-
preciations. (Livingstone heard some one say," God
created white and black men, but the devil created
the half-castes. ")
Crossed races are always at the same timecrossed
* This sentence is a complete refutation of a book which
caused so much stir in Germany about a decade ago, and in
England quite recently, Chamberlain's Nineteenth Century,
in which a purely imaginary Teutonic race is held up as
the Chosen People of the world. Nietzsche says elsewhere,
"Peoples and Countries," aphorism 21, " Associate with no
man who takes part in the mendacious race-swindle. "—Tr.
## p. 254 (#334) ############################################
254 THE DAWN OF DAY.
cultures and crossed moralities: they are, as a rule,
more evil, cruel, and restless. Purity is the final
result of innumerable adjustments, absorptions, and
eliminations; and progress towards purity in a race
is shown by the fact that the latent strength in the
race is more and more restricted to a few special
functions, whilst it formerly had to carry out too
many and often contradictory things. Such a re-
striction will always have the appearance of an
impoverishment, and must be judged with prudence
and moderation. In the long run, however,when the
process of purification has come to a successful ter-
mination,all those forceswhich were formerly wasted
in the struggle between the disharmonious qualities
are at the disposalof theorganismasawhole,and this
is why purified races have always become stronger
and more beautiful. —The Greeks may serve us as
a model of a purified race and culture ! —and it is
to be hoped that some day a pure European race
and culture may arise.
273-
PraISE. —Here is some one who, you per-
ceive, wishes to praise you: you bite your lips
and brace up your heart: Oh, that that cup
might go hence! But it does not, it comes!
let us therefore drink the sweet impudence of the
panegyrist, let us overcome the disgust and pro-
found contempt that we feel for the innermost
substance of his praise, let us assume a look of
thankful joy—for he wished to make himself agree-
able to us! And now that it is all over we know
## p. 255 (#335) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 255
that he feels greatly exalted; he has been victorious
over us. Yes, and also over himself, the villain ! —
for it was no easy matter for him to wring this
praise from himself.
274.
The Rights and Privileges of Man. —We
human beings are the only creatures who, when
things do not go well with us, can blot ourselves
out like a clumsy sentence,—whether we do so out
of honour for humanity or pity for it, or on account
of the aversion we feel towards ourselves.
275.
The Transformed Being. —Now he becomes
virtuous; but only for the sake of hurting others
by being so. Don't pay so much attention to him.
276.
How Often! How Unexpected ! —How may
married men have some morning awakened to the
fact that their young wife is dull, although she
thinks quite the contrary! not to speak of those
wives whose flesh is willing but whose intellect
is weak!
277.
Warm and Cold Virtues. —Courage is some-
times the consequence of cold and unshaken reso-
lution, and at other times of a fiery and reckless
elan. For these two kinds of courage there is only
the one name! —but how different, nevertheless,
## p. 255 (#336) ############################################
254
THE DAWN OF DAY.
cultures and crossed moralities: they are, as a rule,
more evil, cruel, and restless. Purity is the final
result of innumerable adjustments, absorptions, and
eliminations; and progress towards purity in a race
is shown by the fact that the latent strength in the
race is more and more restricted to a few special
functions, whilst it formerly had to carry out too
many and often contradictory things. Such a re-
striction will always have the appearance of an
impoverishment, and must be judged with prudence
and moderation. In the long run, however, when the
process of purification has come to a successful ter-
mination, all those forces which were formerly wasted
in the struggle between the disharmonious qualities
are at the disposal of the organism as a whole, and this
is why purified races have always become stronger
and more beautiful. — The Greeks may serve us as
a model of a purified race and culture ! —and it is
to be hoped that some day a pure European race
and culture may arise.
273.
PRAISE. —Here is some one who, you per-
ceive, wishes to praise you: you bite your lips
and brace up your heart: Oh, that that cup
might go hence! But it does not, it comes !
let us therefore drink the sweet impudence of the
panegyrist, let us overcome the disgust and pro-
found contempt that we feel for the innermost
substance of his praise, let us assume a look of
thankful joy-for he wished to make himself agree-
able to us! And now that it is all over we know
## p. 255 (#337) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
255
that he feels greatly exalted; he has been victorious
over us. Yes, and also over himself, the villain ! -
for it was no easy matter for him to wring this
praise from himself.
274.
THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF MAN. -We
human beings are the only creatures who, when
things do not go well with us, can blot ourselves
out like a clumsy sentence,—whether we do so out
of honour for humanity or pity for it, or on account
of the aversion we feel towards ourselves.
275.
THE TRANSFORMED BEING. –Now he becomes
virtuous; but only for the sake of hurting others
by being so. Don't pay so much attention to him.
276.
How OFTEN! How UNEXPECTED ! —How may
married men have some morning awakened to the
fact that their young wife is dull, although she
thinks quite the contrary! not to speak of those
wives whose flesh is willing but whose intellect
is weak!
277.
WARM AND COLD VIRTUES. — Courage is some-
times the consequence of cold and unshaken reso-
lution, and at other times of a fiery and reckless
élan. For these two kinds of courage there is only
the one name ! —but how different, nevertheless,
## p. 256 (#338) ############################################
256 THE DAWN OF DAY.
are cold virtues and warm virtues! and the man
would be a fool who could suppose that " good-
ness" could only be brought about by warmth,
and no less a fool he who would only attribute it
to cold. The truth is that mankind has found
both warm and cold courage very useful, yet not
often enough to prevent it from setting them both
in the category of precious stones.
'278.
The GRACIOUS Memory. —A man of high rank
will do well to develop a gracious memory, that
is, to note all the good qualities of people and re-
member them particularly; for in this way he holds
them in an agreeable dependence. A man may also
act in this way towards himself: whether or not he
has a gracious memory determines in the end the
superiority, gentleness, or distrust with which he ob-
serves his own inclinations and intentions,andfinally
even the nature of these inclinations and intentions.
279.
Wherein we become Artists. — He who
makes an idol of some one endeavours to justify
himself in his own eyes by idealising this person:
in other words, he becomes an artist that he may
have a clear conscience. When he suffers he does
not suffer from his ignorance, but from the lie he
has told himself to make himself ignorant. The
inmost misery and desire of such a man—and all
passionate lovers are included in this category—
cannot be exhausted by normal means.
## p. 257 (#339) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 257
280.
CHILDLIKE. — Those who live like children—
those who have not to struggle for their daily
bread, and do not think that their actions have
any ultimate signification—remain childlike.
281.
Our Ego desires Everything. — It would
seem as if men in general were only inspired by the
desire to possess: languages at least would permit
of this supposition, for they view past actions from
the standpoint that we have been put in possession
of something — "I have spoken, struggled, con-
quered "—as if to say, I am now in possession of
my word, my struggle, my victory. How greedy
man appears in this light! he cannot even let the
past escape him: he even wishes to have it still!
282.
Danger in Beauty. —This woman is beautiful
and intelligent: alas, how much more intelligent she
would have become if she had not been beautiful!
283.
Domestic and Mental Peace. —Our habitual
mood depends upon the mood in which we maintain
our habitual entourage.
284.
New Things as Old Ones. —Many people
seem irritated when something new is told them:
R
## p. 258 (#340) ############################################
/
/
. ■
2J8 THE DAWN OF DAY.
they feel the ascendancy which the news has given
to the person who has learnt it first.
285.
What are the Limits of the Ego. —The
majority of people take under their protection, as
it were, something that they know, as if the fact
of knowing it was sufficient in itself to make it
their property. The acquisitiveness of the egoistic
feeling has no limits: Great men speak as if they
had behind them the whole of time, and had
placed themselves at the head of this enormous
host; and good women boast of the beauty of their
children, their clothes, their dog, their physician,
or their native town, but the only thing they dare
not say is, " I am all that. " Chi non ha non e—
as they say in Italy.
286.
Domestic Animals, Pets and the Like. —
Could there be anything more repugnant than the
sentimentality which is shown to plants and animals
—and this on the part of a creature who from the
very beginning has made such ravages among
them as their most ferocious enemy,—and who
ends by even claiming affectionate feelings from his
weakened and mutilated victims! Before this kind
of " nature" man must above all be serious, if he
is any sort of a thinking being.
287.
Two FRIENDS. —They were friends once, but
now they have ceased to be so, and both of them
## p. 259 (#341) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 259
broke off the friendship at the same time, the one
because he believed himself to be too greatly mis-
understood, and the other because he thought he
was known too intimately—and both were wrong!
For neither of them knew himself well enough.
288.
The Comedy of the Noble Souls. —Those
whocannot succeed in exhibiting a noble and cordial
familiarity endeavour to let the nobleness of their
nature be seen by their exercise of reserve and
strictness, and a certain contempt for familiarity,
as if their strong sense of confidence were ashamed
to show itsell.
289.
Where we may say Nothing against
Virtue. —Among cowards it is thought bad form
to say anything against bravery, for any expression
of this kind would give rise to some contempt;
and unfeeling people are irritated when anything
is said against pity. *
290.
A Waste. —We find that with irritable and
abrupt people their first words and actions generally
afford no indication of their actual character—they
are prompted by circumstances, and are to some
* The fiercest protests against Nietzsche's teaching even
now come from the " unfeeling people. " Hence the difficulty
—now happily past—of introducing him into Anglo-Saxon
countries. —Tr.
## p. 260 (#342) ############################################
260 THE DAWN OF DAY.
extent simply reproductions of the spirit of these
circumstances. Because, however, as the words
have been uttered and the deeds done,the subsequent
words and deeds, indicating the real nature of such
people, have often to be used to reconcile, amend,
or extinguish the former.
291.
ARROGANCE. —Arrogance is an artificial and
simulated pride; but it is precisely the essential
nature of pride to be incapable of artifice, simu-
lation, or hypocrisy—and thus arrogance is the
hypocrisy of the incapacity for hypocrisy, a very
difficult thing, and one which is a failure in most
cases. But if we suppose that, as most frequently
happens, the presumptuous person betrays himself,
then a treble annoyance falls to his lot: people
are angry with him because he has endeavoured to
deceive them, and because he wished to show himself
superior to them, and finally they laugh at him
because he failed in both these endeavours. How
earnestly, therefore, should we dissuade our fellow-
men from arrogance!
292.
A Species of Misconception. —When we hear
somebody speak it is often sufficient for his pro-
nunciation of a single consonant (the letter r, for
example) to fill us with doubts as to the honesty
of his feelings: we are not accustomed to this
particular pronunciation, and should have to make
it ourselves as it were arbitrarily—it sounds "forced"
## p. 261 (#343) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 26i
to us. This is the domain of the greatest possible
misconception: and it is the same with the style
of a writer who has certain habits which are not the
habits of everybody. His "artlessness" is felt as
such only by himself, and precisely in regard to that
which he himself feels to be " forced " (because he
has yielded in this matter to the prevailing fashion
and to so called "good taste"), he may perhaps
give pleasure and inspire confidence.
293-
Thankful. —One superfluous grain of gratitude
and piety makes one suffer as from a vice—in
spite of all one's independence and honesty one
begins to have a bad conscience.
294.
Saints. —It is the most sensual men who find
it necessary to avoid women and to torture their
bodies.
295.
The Subtlety of Serving. —One of the most
subtle tasks in the great art of serving is that of
serving a more than usually ambitious man, who,
indeed, is excessively egoistic in all things, but is
entirely adverse to being thought so (this is part
of his ambition). He requires that everything shall
be according to his own will and humour, yet in
such a way as to give him the appearance of always
having sacrificed himself, and of rarely desiring
anything for himself alone.
## p. 262 (#344) ############################################
262 THE DAWN OF DAY.
296.
Duelling. —I think it a great advantage, said
some one, to be able to fight a duel—if, of course,
it is absolutely necessary; for I have at all times
brave companions about me.
The duel is the last
means of thoroughly honourable suicide left to us;
but it is unfortunately a circuitous means, and not
even a certain one.
297.
PERNicIOUs. —A young man can be most surely
corrupted when he is taught to value the like-
minded more highly than the differently minded.
298.
Hero-Worship and its Fanatics. —The
fanatic of an ideal that possesses flesh and blood
is right as a rule so long as he assumes a negative
attitude, and he is terrible in his negation: he
knows what he denies as well as he knows himself,
for the simple reason that he comes thence, that he
feels at home there, and that he has always the
secret fear of being forced to return there some
day. He therefore wishes to make his return im-
possible by the manner of his negation. As soon
as he begins to affirm, however, he partly shuts his
eyes and begins to idealise (frequently merely for
the sake of annoying those who have stayed at
home). We might say that there was something
artistic about this—agreed, but there is also some-
thing dishonest about it.
## p. 263 (#345) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 263
The idealist of a person imagines this person to
be so far from him that he can no longer see him
distinctly, and then he travesties that which he can
just perceive into something "beautiful"—that is
to say, symmetrical, vaguely outlined, uncertain.
Since he wishes to worship from afar that ideal
which floats on high in the distance, he finds
it essential to build a temple for the object of
his worship as a protection from the profanum
vulgus. He brings into this temple for the object
of his worship all the venerable and sanctified objects
which he still possesses, so that his ideal may benefit
by their charm, and that, nourished in this way, it
may grow more and more divine. In the end he
really succeeds in forming his God, but, alas for
him! there is some one who knows how all this
has been done, viz. his intellectual conscience; and
there is also some one who, quite unconsciously,
begins to protest against these things, viz. the
deified one himself, who, in consequence of all this
worship, praise, and incense, now becomes com-
pletely unbearable and shows himself in the most
obvious and dreadful manner to be non-divine, and
only too human.
In a case like this there is only one means of
escape left for such a fanatic; he patiently suffers
himself and his fellows to be maltreated, and inter-
prets all this misery in maiorem dei gloriam by a
new kind of self-deceit and noble falsehood. He
takes up a stand against himself, and in doing so
experiences, as an interpreter and ill-treated person,
something like martyrdom—and in this way he
climbs to the height of his conceit. Men of this
## p. 264 (#346) ############################################
264 THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the " genius " and the
"hero," which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a "worm compared with such a being. " (The
formulae of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle,that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain! )
299.
The Appearance of Heroism. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
Condescending towards the Flatterer.
—It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
"Strength of Character. "—" What I have
said once I will do "—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#347) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. —There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#348) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the “genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a “worm compared with such a being. ” (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#349) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. · 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
It bered the lat w and
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#350) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the “genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a "worm compared with such a being. ” (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#351) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
( 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#352) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the“ genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a “worm compared with such a being. " (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. — Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I'have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#353) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
· 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#354) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the“ genius” and the
“ hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a “worm compared with such a being. " (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. — Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do ”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#355) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
. 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority — There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#356) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the “genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a "worm compared with such a being. ” (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
-It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them : but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#357) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves,and thus encourages a sense of weaknessinus.
302.
Once, Twice, and Thrice True. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
The Pastime of the Psychologist. —He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. —There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 266 (#358) ############################################
266 THE DAWN OF DAY.
304.
The Destroyers of the World. —When
some men fail to accomplish what they desire to
do they exclaim angrily, "May the whole world
perish! " This odious feeling is the height of envy
which reasons thus: because I cannot have one
thing the whole world in general must have no-
thing! the whole world shall not exist!
305.
Greed. —When we set out to buy something our
greed increases with the cheapness of the object—
Why? Is it because the small differences in price
make up the little eye of greed?
306.
The Greek Ideal. —What did the Greeks ad-
mire in Ulysses? Above all his capacity for lying
and for taking a shrewd and dreadful revenge, his
being equal to circumstances, his appearing to
be nobler than the noblest when necessary, his
ability to be everything he desired, his heroic
pertinacity, having all means within his command,
possessing genius—the genius of Ulysses is an
object of the admiration of the gods, they smile
when they think of it—all this is the Greek ideal!
What is most remarkable about it is that the con-
tradiction between seeming and being was not felt
in any way, and that as a consequence it could not
be morally estimated. Were there ever such ac-
complished actors?
## p. 267 (#359) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 267
307-
Facta! Yes, Facta Ficta! —The historian
need not concern himself with events which have
actually happened, but only those which are
supposed to have happened; for none but the latter
have produced an effect. The same remark applies
to the imaginary heroes. His theme—this so-called
world-history—what is it but opinions on imag-
inary actions and their imaginary motives, which
in their turn give rise to opinions and actions
the reality of which, however, is at once evaporated,
and is only effective as vapour,—a continual gener-
ating and impregnating of phantoms above the
dense mists of unfathomable reality.
a change of diet and severe manual labour; but in
such cases men are in the habit of having recourse
to mental intoxicants, to art for example—which is
both to their own detriment and that of art! Can
you not see that when you call for art as sick people
you make the artists themselves sick?
270.
Apparent Toleration. — Those are good,
benevolent, and rational words on and in favour of
science, but, alas! I see behind these words your
toleration of science. In a corner of your inmost
mind you think, in spite of all you say, that it is
not necessary for you, that it shows magnanimity on
your part to admit and even to advocate it, more
especially as science on its part does not exhibit
this magnanimity in regard to your opinion! Do
you know that you have no right whatever toexercise
this toleration? that this condescension of yours
is an even coarser disparagement of science than
any of that open scorn which a presumptuous priest
or artist might allow himself to indulge in towards
science? What is lacking in you is a strong sense
for everything that is true and actual, you do not
feel grieved and worried to find that science is in
contradiction to your own sentiments, you are un-
acquainted with that intense desire for knowledge
ruling over you like a law, you do not feel a duty
in the need of being present with your own eyes
wherever knowledge exists, and to let nothing that
is " known " escape you. You do not know that
which you are treating with such toleration! and
## p. 252 (#332) ############################################
252 THE DAWN OF DAY.
it is only because you do not know it that you can
succeed in adopting such a gracious attitude towards
it. You, forsooth, would look upon science with
hatred and fanaticism if it for once cast its shining
and illuminating glance upon you! What does it
matter to us, then, if you do exhibit toleration—and
towards a phantom! and not even towards us ! —
and what do we matter!
271.
Festive Moods. —It is exactly those men who
aspire most ardently towards power who feel it in-
describably agreeable to be overpowered! to sink
suddenly and deeply into a feeling as into a whirl-
pool! To suffer the reins to be snatched out of
their hand, and to watch a movement which takes
them they know not where! Whatever or who-
ever may be the person or thing that renders us
this service, it is nevertheless a great service: we
are so happy and breathless, and feel around us
an exceptional silence, as if we were in the most
central bowels of the earth. To be for once entirely
powerless! the plaything of the elementary forces
of nature! There is a restfulness in this happi-
ness, a casting away of the great burden, a descent
without fatigue, as if one had been given up to the
blind force of gravity.
This is the dream of the mountain climber, who,
although he sees his goal far above him, neverthe-
less Calls asleep on the way from utter exhaustion,
and dreams of the happiness of the contrast—this
effortless rolling down hill. I describe happiness
## p. 253 (#333) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 253
as I imagine it to be in our present-day society,
the badgered, ambitious society of Europe and
America. Now and then they wish to fall back
into impotence—this enjoyment is offered them
by wars, arts, religions, and geniuses. When a man
has temporarily abandoned himself to a moment-
ary impression which devours and crushes every-
thing—and this is the modern festive mood—he
afterwards becomes freer, colder, more refreshed,
and more strict, and again strives tirelessly after
the contrary of all this: power.
272.
The Purification of Races. —It is probable
that there are no pure races, but only races which
have become purified, and even these are extremely
rare. * We more often meet with crossed races,
among whom, together with the defects in the har-
mony of the bodily forms (for example when the
eyes do not accord with the mouth) we necessarily
always find defects of harmony in habits and ap-
preciations. (Livingstone heard some one say," God
created white and black men, but the devil created
the half-castes. ")
Crossed races are always at the same timecrossed
* This sentence is a complete refutation of a book which
caused so much stir in Germany about a decade ago, and in
England quite recently, Chamberlain's Nineteenth Century,
in which a purely imaginary Teutonic race is held up as
the Chosen People of the world. Nietzsche says elsewhere,
"Peoples and Countries," aphorism 21, " Associate with no
man who takes part in the mendacious race-swindle. "—Tr.
## p. 254 (#334) ############################################
254 THE DAWN OF DAY.
cultures and crossed moralities: they are, as a rule,
more evil, cruel, and restless. Purity is the final
result of innumerable adjustments, absorptions, and
eliminations; and progress towards purity in a race
is shown by the fact that the latent strength in the
race is more and more restricted to a few special
functions, whilst it formerly had to carry out too
many and often contradictory things. Such a re-
striction will always have the appearance of an
impoverishment, and must be judged with prudence
and moderation. In the long run, however,when the
process of purification has come to a successful ter-
mination,all those forceswhich were formerly wasted
in the struggle between the disharmonious qualities
are at the disposalof theorganismasawhole,and this
is why purified races have always become stronger
and more beautiful. —The Greeks may serve us as
a model of a purified race and culture ! —and it is
to be hoped that some day a pure European race
and culture may arise.
273-
PraISE. —Here is some one who, you per-
ceive, wishes to praise you: you bite your lips
and brace up your heart: Oh, that that cup
might go hence! But it does not, it comes!
let us therefore drink the sweet impudence of the
panegyrist, let us overcome the disgust and pro-
found contempt that we feel for the innermost
substance of his praise, let us assume a look of
thankful joy—for he wished to make himself agree-
able to us! And now that it is all over we know
## p. 255 (#335) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 255
that he feels greatly exalted; he has been victorious
over us. Yes, and also over himself, the villain ! —
for it was no easy matter for him to wring this
praise from himself.
274.
The Rights and Privileges of Man. —We
human beings are the only creatures who, when
things do not go well with us, can blot ourselves
out like a clumsy sentence,—whether we do so out
of honour for humanity or pity for it, or on account
of the aversion we feel towards ourselves.
275.
The Transformed Being. —Now he becomes
virtuous; but only for the sake of hurting others
by being so. Don't pay so much attention to him.
276.
How Often! How Unexpected ! —How may
married men have some morning awakened to the
fact that their young wife is dull, although she
thinks quite the contrary! not to speak of those
wives whose flesh is willing but whose intellect
is weak!
277.
Warm and Cold Virtues. —Courage is some-
times the consequence of cold and unshaken reso-
lution, and at other times of a fiery and reckless
elan. For these two kinds of courage there is only
the one name! —but how different, nevertheless,
## p. 255 (#336) ############################################
254
THE DAWN OF DAY.
cultures and crossed moralities: they are, as a rule,
more evil, cruel, and restless. Purity is the final
result of innumerable adjustments, absorptions, and
eliminations; and progress towards purity in a race
is shown by the fact that the latent strength in the
race is more and more restricted to a few special
functions, whilst it formerly had to carry out too
many and often contradictory things. Such a re-
striction will always have the appearance of an
impoverishment, and must be judged with prudence
and moderation. In the long run, however, when the
process of purification has come to a successful ter-
mination, all those forces which were formerly wasted
in the struggle between the disharmonious qualities
are at the disposal of the organism as a whole, and this
is why purified races have always become stronger
and more beautiful. — The Greeks may serve us as
a model of a purified race and culture ! —and it is
to be hoped that some day a pure European race
and culture may arise.
273.
PRAISE. —Here is some one who, you per-
ceive, wishes to praise you: you bite your lips
and brace up your heart: Oh, that that cup
might go hence! But it does not, it comes !
let us therefore drink the sweet impudence of the
panegyrist, let us overcome the disgust and pro-
found contempt that we feel for the innermost
substance of his praise, let us assume a look of
thankful joy-for he wished to make himself agree-
able to us! And now that it is all over we know
## p. 255 (#337) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
255
that he feels greatly exalted; he has been victorious
over us. Yes, and also over himself, the villain ! -
for it was no easy matter for him to wring this
praise from himself.
274.
THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF MAN. -We
human beings are the only creatures who, when
things do not go well with us, can blot ourselves
out like a clumsy sentence,—whether we do so out
of honour for humanity or pity for it, or on account
of the aversion we feel towards ourselves.
275.
THE TRANSFORMED BEING. –Now he becomes
virtuous; but only for the sake of hurting others
by being so. Don't pay so much attention to him.
276.
How OFTEN! How UNEXPECTED ! —How may
married men have some morning awakened to the
fact that their young wife is dull, although she
thinks quite the contrary! not to speak of those
wives whose flesh is willing but whose intellect
is weak!
277.
WARM AND COLD VIRTUES. — Courage is some-
times the consequence of cold and unshaken reso-
lution, and at other times of a fiery and reckless
élan. For these two kinds of courage there is only
the one name ! —but how different, nevertheless,
## p. 256 (#338) ############################################
256 THE DAWN OF DAY.
are cold virtues and warm virtues! and the man
would be a fool who could suppose that " good-
ness" could only be brought about by warmth,
and no less a fool he who would only attribute it
to cold. The truth is that mankind has found
both warm and cold courage very useful, yet not
often enough to prevent it from setting them both
in the category of precious stones.
'278.
The GRACIOUS Memory. —A man of high rank
will do well to develop a gracious memory, that
is, to note all the good qualities of people and re-
member them particularly; for in this way he holds
them in an agreeable dependence. A man may also
act in this way towards himself: whether or not he
has a gracious memory determines in the end the
superiority, gentleness, or distrust with which he ob-
serves his own inclinations and intentions,andfinally
even the nature of these inclinations and intentions.
279.
Wherein we become Artists. — He who
makes an idol of some one endeavours to justify
himself in his own eyes by idealising this person:
in other words, he becomes an artist that he may
have a clear conscience. When he suffers he does
not suffer from his ignorance, but from the lie he
has told himself to make himself ignorant. The
inmost misery and desire of such a man—and all
passionate lovers are included in this category—
cannot be exhausted by normal means.
## p. 257 (#339) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 257
280.
CHILDLIKE. — Those who live like children—
those who have not to struggle for their daily
bread, and do not think that their actions have
any ultimate signification—remain childlike.
281.
Our Ego desires Everything. — It would
seem as if men in general were only inspired by the
desire to possess: languages at least would permit
of this supposition, for they view past actions from
the standpoint that we have been put in possession
of something — "I have spoken, struggled, con-
quered "—as if to say, I am now in possession of
my word, my struggle, my victory. How greedy
man appears in this light! he cannot even let the
past escape him: he even wishes to have it still!
282.
Danger in Beauty. —This woman is beautiful
and intelligent: alas, how much more intelligent she
would have become if she had not been beautiful!
283.
Domestic and Mental Peace. —Our habitual
mood depends upon the mood in which we maintain
our habitual entourage.
284.
New Things as Old Ones. —Many people
seem irritated when something new is told them:
R
## p. 258 (#340) ############################################
/
/
. ■
2J8 THE DAWN OF DAY.
they feel the ascendancy which the news has given
to the person who has learnt it first.
285.
What are the Limits of the Ego. —The
majority of people take under their protection, as
it were, something that they know, as if the fact
of knowing it was sufficient in itself to make it
their property. The acquisitiveness of the egoistic
feeling has no limits: Great men speak as if they
had behind them the whole of time, and had
placed themselves at the head of this enormous
host; and good women boast of the beauty of their
children, their clothes, their dog, their physician,
or their native town, but the only thing they dare
not say is, " I am all that. " Chi non ha non e—
as they say in Italy.
286.
Domestic Animals, Pets and the Like. —
Could there be anything more repugnant than the
sentimentality which is shown to plants and animals
—and this on the part of a creature who from the
very beginning has made such ravages among
them as their most ferocious enemy,—and who
ends by even claiming affectionate feelings from his
weakened and mutilated victims! Before this kind
of " nature" man must above all be serious, if he
is any sort of a thinking being.
287.
Two FRIENDS. —They were friends once, but
now they have ceased to be so, and both of them
## p. 259 (#341) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 259
broke off the friendship at the same time, the one
because he believed himself to be too greatly mis-
understood, and the other because he thought he
was known too intimately—and both were wrong!
For neither of them knew himself well enough.
288.
The Comedy of the Noble Souls. —Those
whocannot succeed in exhibiting a noble and cordial
familiarity endeavour to let the nobleness of their
nature be seen by their exercise of reserve and
strictness, and a certain contempt for familiarity,
as if their strong sense of confidence were ashamed
to show itsell.
289.
Where we may say Nothing against
Virtue. —Among cowards it is thought bad form
to say anything against bravery, for any expression
of this kind would give rise to some contempt;
and unfeeling people are irritated when anything
is said against pity. *
290.
A Waste. —We find that with irritable and
abrupt people their first words and actions generally
afford no indication of their actual character—they
are prompted by circumstances, and are to some
* The fiercest protests against Nietzsche's teaching even
now come from the " unfeeling people. " Hence the difficulty
—now happily past—of introducing him into Anglo-Saxon
countries. —Tr.
## p. 260 (#342) ############################################
260 THE DAWN OF DAY.
extent simply reproductions of the spirit of these
circumstances. Because, however, as the words
have been uttered and the deeds done,the subsequent
words and deeds, indicating the real nature of such
people, have often to be used to reconcile, amend,
or extinguish the former.
291.
ARROGANCE. —Arrogance is an artificial and
simulated pride; but it is precisely the essential
nature of pride to be incapable of artifice, simu-
lation, or hypocrisy—and thus arrogance is the
hypocrisy of the incapacity for hypocrisy, a very
difficult thing, and one which is a failure in most
cases. But if we suppose that, as most frequently
happens, the presumptuous person betrays himself,
then a treble annoyance falls to his lot: people
are angry with him because he has endeavoured to
deceive them, and because he wished to show himself
superior to them, and finally they laugh at him
because he failed in both these endeavours. How
earnestly, therefore, should we dissuade our fellow-
men from arrogance!
292.
A Species of Misconception. —When we hear
somebody speak it is often sufficient for his pro-
nunciation of a single consonant (the letter r, for
example) to fill us with doubts as to the honesty
of his feelings: we are not accustomed to this
particular pronunciation, and should have to make
it ourselves as it were arbitrarily—it sounds "forced"
## p. 261 (#343) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 26i
to us. This is the domain of the greatest possible
misconception: and it is the same with the style
of a writer who has certain habits which are not the
habits of everybody. His "artlessness" is felt as
such only by himself, and precisely in regard to that
which he himself feels to be " forced " (because he
has yielded in this matter to the prevailing fashion
and to so called "good taste"), he may perhaps
give pleasure and inspire confidence.
293-
Thankful. —One superfluous grain of gratitude
and piety makes one suffer as from a vice—in
spite of all one's independence and honesty one
begins to have a bad conscience.
294.
Saints. —It is the most sensual men who find
it necessary to avoid women and to torture their
bodies.
295.
The Subtlety of Serving. —One of the most
subtle tasks in the great art of serving is that of
serving a more than usually ambitious man, who,
indeed, is excessively egoistic in all things, but is
entirely adverse to being thought so (this is part
of his ambition). He requires that everything shall
be according to his own will and humour, yet in
such a way as to give him the appearance of always
having sacrificed himself, and of rarely desiring
anything for himself alone.
## p. 262 (#344) ############################################
262 THE DAWN OF DAY.
296.
Duelling. —I think it a great advantage, said
some one, to be able to fight a duel—if, of course,
it is absolutely necessary; for I have at all times
brave companions about me.
The duel is the last
means of thoroughly honourable suicide left to us;
but it is unfortunately a circuitous means, and not
even a certain one.
297.
PERNicIOUs. —A young man can be most surely
corrupted when he is taught to value the like-
minded more highly than the differently minded.
298.
Hero-Worship and its Fanatics. —The
fanatic of an ideal that possesses flesh and blood
is right as a rule so long as he assumes a negative
attitude, and he is terrible in his negation: he
knows what he denies as well as he knows himself,
for the simple reason that he comes thence, that he
feels at home there, and that he has always the
secret fear of being forced to return there some
day. He therefore wishes to make his return im-
possible by the manner of his negation. As soon
as he begins to affirm, however, he partly shuts his
eyes and begins to idealise (frequently merely for
the sake of annoying those who have stayed at
home). We might say that there was something
artistic about this—agreed, but there is also some-
thing dishonest about it.
## p. 263 (#345) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 263
The idealist of a person imagines this person to
be so far from him that he can no longer see him
distinctly, and then he travesties that which he can
just perceive into something "beautiful"—that is
to say, symmetrical, vaguely outlined, uncertain.
Since he wishes to worship from afar that ideal
which floats on high in the distance, he finds
it essential to build a temple for the object of
his worship as a protection from the profanum
vulgus. He brings into this temple for the object
of his worship all the venerable and sanctified objects
which he still possesses, so that his ideal may benefit
by their charm, and that, nourished in this way, it
may grow more and more divine. In the end he
really succeeds in forming his God, but, alas for
him! there is some one who knows how all this
has been done, viz. his intellectual conscience; and
there is also some one who, quite unconsciously,
begins to protest against these things, viz. the
deified one himself, who, in consequence of all this
worship, praise, and incense, now becomes com-
pletely unbearable and shows himself in the most
obvious and dreadful manner to be non-divine, and
only too human.
In a case like this there is only one means of
escape left for such a fanatic; he patiently suffers
himself and his fellows to be maltreated, and inter-
prets all this misery in maiorem dei gloriam by a
new kind of self-deceit and noble falsehood. He
takes up a stand against himself, and in doing so
experiences, as an interpreter and ill-treated person,
something like martyrdom—and in this way he
climbs to the height of his conceit. Men of this
## p. 264 (#346) ############################################
264 THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the " genius " and the
"hero," which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a "worm compared with such a being. " (The
formulae of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle,that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain! )
299.
The Appearance of Heroism. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
Condescending towards the Flatterer.
—It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
"Strength of Character. "—" What I have
said once I will do "—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#347) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. —There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#348) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the “genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a “worm compared with such a being. ” (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#349) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. · 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
It bered the lat w and
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#350) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the “genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a "worm compared with such a being. ” (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#351) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
( 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#352) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the“ genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a “worm compared with such a being. " (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. — Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I'have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#353) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
· 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#354) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the“ genius” and the
“ hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a “worm compared with such a being. " (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. — Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
- It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them: but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do ”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#355) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY.
. 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves, and thus encourages a sense of weaknessin us.
302.
ONCE, TWICE, AND THRICE TRUE. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
· THE PASTIME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST. -He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority — There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 265 (#356) ############################################
264
THE DAWN OF DAY.
kind to be found, for example, in the entourage of
Napoleon: indeed, perhaps it may have been he who
inspired the soul of his century with that romantic
prostration in the presence of the “genius "and the
“hero,” which was so foreign to the spirit of rational-
ism of the nineteenth century—a man about whom
even Byron was not ashamed to say that he was
a "worm compared with such a being. ” (The
formulæ of this prostration have been discovered by
Thomas Carlyle, that arrogant old muddle-head and
grumbler, who spent his long life in trying to ro-
manticise the common sense of his Englishmen:
but in vain ! )
299.
THE APPEARANCE OF HEROISM. —Throwing
ourselves in the midst of our enemies may be a
sign of cowardice.
300.
CONDESCENDING TOWARDS THE FLATTERER.
-It is the ultimate prudence of insatiably ambi-
tious men not only to conceal their contempt for
man which the sight of flatterers causes them : but
also to appear even condescending to them, like a
God who can be nothing if not condescending.
301.
“STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. ”—“What I have
said once I will do”—This manner of thinking is
believed to indicate great strength of character.
## p. 265 (#357) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 265
How many actions are accomplished, not because
they have been selected as being the most rational,
but because at the moment when we thought of
them they influenced our ambition and vanity by
some means or another, so that we do not stop
until we have blindly carried them out. Thus they
strengthen in us our belief in our character and
our good conscience, in short our strength; whilst
the choice of the most rational acts possible brings
about a certain amount of scepticism towards our-
selves,and thus encourages a sense of weaknessinus.
302.
Once, Twice, and Thrice True. —Men lie
unspeakably and often, but they do not think about
it afterwards, and generally do not believe in it.
303.
The Pastime of the Psychologist. —He
thinks he knows me, and fancies himself to be
subtle and important when he has any kind of rela-
tions with me; and I take care not to undeceive
him. For in such a case I should suffer for it,
while now he wishes me well because I arouse
in him a feeling of conscious superiority. —There
is another, who fears that I think I know him,
and feels a sense of inferiority at this. As a
result he behaves in a timid and vacillating manner,
in my presence, and endeavours to mislead me
in regard to himself so that he may regain an
ascendancy over me.
## p. 266 (#358) ############################################
266 THE DAWN OF DAY.
304.
The Destroyers of the World. —When
some men fail to accomplish what they desire to
do they exclaim angrily, "May the whole world
perish! " This odious feeling is the height of envy
which reasons thus: because I cannot have one
thing the whole world in general must have no-
thing! the whole world shall not exist!
305.
Greed. —When we set out to buy something our
greed increases with the cheapness of the object—
Why? Is it because the small differences in price
make up the little eye of greed?
306.
The Greek Ideal. —What did the Greeks ad-
mire in Ulysses? Above all his capacity for lying
and for taking a shrewd and dreadful revenge, his
being equal to circumstances, his appearing to
be nobler than the noblest when necessary, his
ability to be everything he desired, his heroic
pertinacity, having all means within his command,
possessing genius—the genius of Ulysses is an
object of the admiration of the gods, they smile
when they think of it—all this is the Greek ideal!
What is most remarkable about it is that the con-
tradiction between seeming and being was not felt
in any way, and that as a consequence it could not
be morally estimated. Were there ever such ac-
complished actors?
## p. 267 (#359) ############################################
THE DAWN OF DAY. 267
307-
Facta! Yes, Facta Ficta! —The historian
need not concern himself with events which have
actually happened, but only those which are
supposed to have happened; for none but the latter
have produced an effect. The same remark applies
to the imaginary heroes. His theme—this so-called
world-history—what is it but opinions on imag-
inary actions and their imaginary motives, which
in their turn give rise to opinions and actions
the reality of which, however, is at once evaporated,
and is only effective as vapour,—a continual gener-
ating and impregnating of phantoms above the
dense mists of unfathomable reality.
