böse in the eyes of those whom he conquers, though it is just in conquering that he feels himself good,[1] and whether the ruling class are conquerors from outside or native to the group they rule, the ruled stand more or less in dread of them. This is especially the case, in Nietzsche's opinion, after a group has been delivered from its enemies and lives in entire security; for the abounding energy, the overflowing vitality, the love of enterprise and conquest and domination, which are the characteristic marks of the superior class and which had been utilized in the public interest in time of danger and war, are now without an outlet and all too easily discharge themselves harmfully within the group itself.[2] Indeed, members of the ruler class may seem böse when they are not; in mere exuberance of spirits and because their heaped-up energy must have vent, they may do harm and inflict suffering, without evil intent on their part.[3]h And, on the other hand, there is a tendency, Nietzsche thinks, for the "good" of the subject-class to become the "schlecht" of the ruling class, i.e., to be looked down upon with something like contempt. His language is, "The contrast reaches its climax, when, in harmony with the logic of slave-morality, something like depreciation (ein Hauch von Geringschätzung)—it may be slight and kindly—at last attaches itself even to the good man of this morality, since the good man, within the slave mode of thought, must at all events be the undangerous man: he is good-natured, easily deceived, perhaps a bit stupid, un bonhomme. Everywhere, where slave-morality gets the upper hand, language shows an inclination to bring the words 'good' and 'stupid' near together."[4]
One way of characterizing the two moralities would be to say that one is a morality of self—approval, the other a utilitarian morality. Considerations of usefulness—usefulness to them-determine the judgments of the mass as to good and evil, for they are weak and need to have things arranged for their benefit. But the powerful class, who put their impress on things, who are happy in themselves—what is utility to them?
