The Will to Power · Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
755.
Socialists are particularly ridiculous in my eyes, because of their absurd optimism concerning the "good man" who is supposed to be waiting in their cupboard, and who will come into being when the present order of society has been overturned and has made way for natural instincts. But the opposing party is quite as ludicrous, because it will not see the act of violence which lies beneath every law, the severity and egoism inherent in every kind of authority. "I and my kind will rule and prevail. Whoever degenerates will be either expelled or annihilated."--This was the fundamental feeling of all ancient legislation. The idea of a higher order of man is hated much more profoundly than monarchs themselves. Hatred of aristocracy always uses hatred of monarchy as a mask. How treacherous are all parties! They bring to light something concerning their leaders which the latter, perhaps, have hitherto kept hidden beneath a bushel with consummate art. Modern Socialism would fain create a profane counterpart to jesuitism: everybody a perfect instrument. But as to the object of it all, the purpose of it--this has not yet been ascertained. _The slavery of to-day_: a piece of barbarism. Where are the masters for whom these slaves work? One must not always expect the simultaneous appearance of the two complementary castes of society.
Utility and pleasure are slave theories of life. "The blessing of work" is an ennobling phrase for slaves. Incapacity for leisure. There is no such thing as a right to live, a right to work, or a right to be happy: in this respect man is not different from the meanest worm. We must undoubtedly think of these things as uncompromisingly as Nature does: they preserve the species. We should look upon the needs of the masses with ironic compassion: they want something which we have got--Ah! European democracy is only in a very slight degree the manifestation of unfettered powers. It represents, above all, the unfettering of laziness, fatigue, and _weakness_. _Concerning the future of the workman_--Workmen men should learn to regard their duties as _soldiers_ do. They receive emoluments, incomes, but they do not get wages! There is no relationship between _work done_ and money received; the individual should, _according to his kind,_ be so placed as to _perform_ the _highest_ that is compatible with his powers. Noblemen ought one day to live as the bourgeois do now--but above them, distinguishing themselves by the simplicity of their wants--the superior caste will then live in a poorer and simpler way and yet be in possession of power. For lower orders of mankind the reverse valuations hold good: it is a matter of implanting "virtues" in them. Absolute commands, terrible compulsory methods, in order that they may rise above mere ease in life. The remainder may obey, but their vanity demands that they may feel themselves dependent, not upon great men, but upon principles.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.