The Genealogy of Morals The Complete Works, Volume Thirteen, edited by Dr. Oscar Levy. · Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
1.
What is the meaning of ascetic ideals? In artists, nothing, or too much; in philosophers and scholars, a kind of "flair" and instinct for the conditions most favourable to advanced intellectualism; in women, at best an _additional_ seductive fascination, a little _morbidezza_ on a fine piece of flesh, the angelhood of a fat, pretty animal; in physiological failures and whiners (in the _majority_ of mortals), an attempt to pose as "too good" for this world, a holy form of debauchery, their chief weapon in the battle with lingering pain and ennui; in priests, the actual priestly faith, their best engine of power, and also the supreme authority for power; in saints, finally a pretext for hibernation, their _novissima gloriæ cupido_, their peace in nothingness ("God"), their form of madness. But in the very fact that the ascetic ideal has meant so much to man, lies expressed the fundamental feature of man's will, his _horror vacui: he needs a goal_--and he will sooner will nothingness than not will at all.--Am I not understood?--Have I not been understood?--"Certainly not, sir?"--Well, let us begin at the beginning.
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