morality of the diminishing nerve-power, in the evening, or in invalids and aged people, is painful, calm, patient, melancholy, often even gloomy. In proportion as we possess the one or the other, we do not understand that which we do not have, and we often call it in others immorality and weakness.
369
To raise oneself above one's own worthlessness.—Proud fellows indeed those who, in order to re-establish the consciousness of their dignity and importance, need others whom they may tyrannise and oppress: whose impotence and cowardice permit the impunity wherewith some display in their pressure a haughty or angry demeanour, so that they need the worthlessness of their surroundings to raise themselves for a short while above their own worthlessness. For this purpose one requires a dog; another a friend; a third a wife; a fourth a party; and another, again, one rarely to be met with, a whole century.
370
To what extent the thinker loves his enemy.—Make it a rule never to withhold or conceal anything from yourself, anything that you might think against your own thoughts. It is the foremost requirement of honest reflection. Every day you must make it your duty to wage war against self. A victory and a conquered bulwark are no longer your concern but that of truth, but also your defeat is no longer your concern.
