Die Eitelkeit Andrer geht uns nur dann wider den Geschmack,…

Die Eitelkeit Andrer geht uns nur dann wider den Geschmack, wenn sie wider unsre Eitelkeit geht.

Chapter IV: Maxims and Interludes, Aphorism 176

Translation: The vanity of others is only counter to our taste when it is counter to our vanity.. Translated by Helen Zimmern

Other Beyond Good and Evil Quotes

Independence is an issue that concerns very few people: — it is a prerogative of the strong. And even when somebody has every right to be independent, if he attempts such a thing without having to do so, he proves that he is probably not only strong, but brave to the point of madness. He enters a labyrinth, he multiplies by a thousand the dangers already inherent in the very act of living, not the least of which is the fact that no one with eyes will see how and where he gets lost and lonely and is torn limb from limb by some cave-Minotaur of conscience. And assuming a man like this is destroyed, it is an event so far from human comprehension that people do not feel it or feel for him: — and he cannot go back again! He cannot go back to their pity again! - View Quote Details on Independence is an issue that concerns very few people: —…
It is some basic certainty which the noble soul has about itself, something which does not allow itself to be sought out or found or perhaps even to be lost. The noble soul has reverence for itself. - View Quote Details on It is some basic certainty which the noble soul has…
Anyone who despises himself will still respect himself as a despiser. - View Quote Details on Anyone who despises himself will still respect himself as a…
The Jews — a people “born for slavery” as Tacitus and the whole ancient world says, “the chosen people” as they themselves say and believe — the Jews achieved that miracle of inversion of values thanks to which life on earth has for a couple of millennia acquired a new and dangerous fascination — their prophets fused “rich”, “godless”, “evil”, “violent”, “sensual” into one and were the first to coin the word “world” as a term of infamy. It is in this inversion of values… that the significance of the Jewish people resides: with them there begins the slave revolt in morals. - View Quote Details on The Jews — a people “born for slavery” as Tacitus…
The sage as astronomer. — If you still experience the stars as something “over you,” you still don’t have the eyes of a knower. - View Quote Details on The sage as astronomer. — If you still experience the…
One seeks a midwife for his thoughts, another someone to whom he can be a midwife: thus originates a good conversation. - View Quote Details on One seeks a midwife for his thoughts, another someone to…
Ober Das, was “Wahrhaftigkeit” ist, war vielleicht noch Niemand wahrhaftig genug. - View Quote Details on Ober Das, was “Wahrhaftigkeit” ist, war vielleicht noch Niemand wahrhaftig…
One has only seen little of life, if one hasn’t also seen the hand that mercifully — kills. - View Quote Details on One has only seen little of life, if one hasn’t…
In a man devoted to knowledge, pity seems almost ridiculous, like delicate hands on a cyclops. - View Quote Details on In a man devoted to knowledge, pity seems almost ridiculous,…
There is a great ladder of religious cruelty, and, of its many rungs, three are the most important. People used to make human sacrifices to their god, perhaps even sacrificing those they loved the best… Then, during the moral epoch of humanity, people sacrificed the strongest instincts they had, their ‘nature,’ to their god; the joy of this particular festival shines in the cruel eyes of the ascetic, that enthusiastic piece of ‘anti-nature.’ Finally: what was left to be sacrificed? In the end, didn’t people have to sacrifice all comfort and hope, everything holy or healing, any faith in hidden harmony or a future filled with justice and bliss? Didn’t people have to sacrifice God himself and worship rocks, stupidity, gravity, fate, or nothingness out of sheer cruelty to themselves? To sacrifice God for nothingness — that paradoxical mystery of the final cruelty has been reserved for the race that is now approaching: by now we all know something about this. - View Quote Details on There is a great ladder of religious cruelty, and, of…