Reading Help Beyond good and evil
off my festal discourse and my sprightly Teutonomania for I have `
` already reached my SERIOUS TOPIC, the "European problem," as I `
` understand it, the rearing of a new ruling caste for Europe. `
` `
` 252. They are not a philosophical race--the English: Bacon `
` represents an ATTACK on the philosophical spirit generally, `
` Hobbes, Hume, and Locke, an abasement, and a depreciation of the `
` idea of a "philosopher" for more than a century. It was AGAINST `
` Hume that Kant uprose and raised himself; it was Locke of whom `
` Schelling RIGHTLY said, "JE MEPRISE LOCKE"; in the struggle `
` against the English mechanical stultification of the world, Hegel `
` and Schopenhauer (along with Goethe) were of one accord; the two `
` hostile brother-geniuses in philosophy, who pushed in different `
` directions towards the opposite poles of German thought, and `
` thereby wronged each other as only brothers will do.--What is `
` lacking in England, and has always been lacking, that half-actor `
` and rhetorician knew well enough, the absurd muddle-head, `
` Carlyle, who sought to conceal under passionate grimaces what he `
` knew about himself: namely, what was LACKING in Carlyle--real `
` POWER of intellect, real DEPTH of intellectual perception, in `
` short, philosophy. It is characteristic of such an `
` unphilosophical race to hold on firmly to Christianity--they NEED `
` its discipline for "moralizing" and humanizing. The Englishman, `
` more gloomy, sensual, headstrong, and brutal than the German--is `
` for that very reason, as the baser of the two, also the most `
` pious: he has all the MORE NEED of Christianity. To finer `
` nostrils, this English Christianity itself has still a `
` characteristic English taint of spleen and alcoholic excess, for `
` which, owing to good reasons, it is used as an antidote--the `
` finer poison to neutralize the coarser: a finer form of poisoning `
` is in fact a step in advance with coarse-mannered people, a step `
` towards spiritualization. The English coarseness and rustic `
` demureness is still most satisfactorily disguised by Christian `
` pantomime, and by praying and psalm-singing (or, more correctly, `
` it is thereby explained and differently expressed); and for the `
` herd of drunkards and rakes who formerly learned moral grunting `
` under the influence of Methodism (and more recently as the `
` "Salvation Army"), a penitential fit may really be the relatively `
` highest manifestation of "humanity" to which they can be `
` elevated: so much may reasonably be admitted. That, however, `
` which offends even in the humanest Englishman is his lack of `
` music, to speak figuratively (and also literally): he has neither `
` rhythm nor dance in the movements of his soul and body; indeed, `
` not even the desire for rhythm and dance, for "music." Listen to `
` him speaking; look at the most beautiful Englishwoman WALKING--in `
` no country on earth are there more beautiful doves and swans; `
` finally, listen to them singing! But I ask too much . . . `
` `
` 253. There are truths which are best recognized by mediocre `
` minds, because they are best adapted for them, there are truths `
` which only possess charms and seductive power for mediocre `
` spirits:--one is pushed to this probably unpleasant conclusion, `
` now that the influence of respectable but mediocre Englishmen--I `
` may mention Darwin, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer--begins `
` to gain the ascendancy in the middle-class region of European `
` taste. Indeed, who could doubt that it is a useful thing for SUCH `
` minds to have the ascendancy for a time? It would be an error to `
` consider the highly developed and independently soaring minds as `
` specially qualified for determining and collecting many little `
` common facts, and deducing conclusions from them; as exceptions, `
` they are rather from the first in no very favourable position `
` towards those who are "the rules." After all, they have more to `
` do than merely to perceive:--in effect, they have to BE something `
` new, they have to SIGNIFY something new, they have to REPRESENT `
` new values! The gulf between knowledge and capacity is perhaps `
` greater, and also more mysterious, than one thinks: the capable `
` man in the grand style, the creator, will possibly have to be an `
` ignorant person;--while on the other hand, for scientific `
` discoveries like those of Darwin, a certain narrowness, aridity, `
` and industrious carefulness (in short, something English) may not `
` be unfavourable for arriving at them.--Finally, let it not be `
` forgotten that the English, with their profound mediocrity, `
` brought about once before a general depression of European `
` intelligence. `
` `
` What is called "modern ideas," or "the ideas of the eighteenth `
` century," or "French ideas"--that, consequently, against which `
` the GERMAN mind rose up with profound disgust--is of English `
` origin, there is no doubt about it. The French were only the apes `
` and actors of these ideas, their best soldiers, and likewise, `
` alas! their first and profoundest VICTIMS; for owing to the `
` diabolical Anglomania of "modern ideas," the AME FRANCAIS has in `
` the end become so thin and emaciated, that at present one recalls `
` its sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, its profound, passionate `
` strength, its inventive excellency, almost with disbelief. One `
` must, however, maintain this verdict of historical justice in a `
` determined manner, and defend it against present prejudices and `
` appearances: the European NOBLESSE--of sentiment, taste, and `
` manners, taking the word in every high sense--is the work and `
` invention of FRANCE; the European ignobleness, the plebeianism of `
` modern ideas--is ENGLAND'S work and invention. `
` `
` 254. Even at present France is still the seat of the most `
` intellectual and refined culture of Europe, it is still the high `
` school of taste; but one must know how to find this "France of `
` taste." He who belongs to it keeps himself well concealed:--they `
` may be a small number in whom it lives and is embodied, besides `
` perhaps being men who do not stand upon the strongest legs, in `
` part fatalists, hypochondriacs, invalids, in part persons over- `
` indulged, over-refined, such as have the AMBITION to conceal `
` themselves. `
` `
` They have all something in common: they keep their ears closed in `
` presence of the delirious folly and noisy spouting of the `
` democratic BOURGEOIS. In fact, a besotted and brutalized France `
` at present sprawls in the foreground--it recently celebrated a `
` veritable orgy of bad taste, and at the same time of self- `
` admiration, at the funeral of Victor Hugo. There is also `
` something else common to them: a predilection to resist `
` intellectual Germanizing--and a still greater inability to do so! `
` In this France of intellect, which is also a France of pessimism, `
` Schopenhauer has perhaps become more at home, and more indigenous `
` than he has ever been in Germany; not to speak of Heinrich Heine, `
` who has long ago been re-incarnated in the more refined and `
` fastidious lyrists of Paris; or of Hegel, who at present, in the `
` form of Taine--the FIRST of living historians--exercises an `
` almost tyrannical influence. As regards Richard Wagner, however, `
` the more French music learns to adapt itself to the actual needs `
` of the AME MODERNE, the more will it "Wagnerite"; one can safely `
` predict that beforehand,--it is already taking place `
` sufficiently! There are, however, three things which the French `
` can still boast of with pride as their heritage and possession, `
` and as indelible tokens of their ancient intellectual superiority `
` in Europe, in spite of all voluntary or involuntary Germanizing `
` and vulgarizing of taste. FIRSTLY, the capacity for artistic `
` emotion, for devotion to "form," for which the expression, L'ART `
` POUR L'ART, along with numerous others, has been invented:--such `
` capacity has not been lacking in France for three centuries; and `
` owing to its reverence for the "small number," it has again and `
` again made a sort of chamber music of literature possible, which `
` is sought for in vain elsewhere in Europe.--The SECOND thing `
` whereby the French can lay claim to a superiority over Europe is `
` their ancient, many-sided, MORALISTIC culture, owing to which one `
` finds on an average, even in the petty ROMANCIERS of the `
` newspapers and chance BOULEVARDIERS DE PARIS, a psychological `
` sensitiveness and curiosity, of which, for example, one has no `
` conception (to say nothing of the thing itself!) in Germany. The `
` Germans lack a couple of centuries of the moralistic work `
` requisite thereto, which, as we have said, France has not `
` grudged: those who call the Germans "naive" on that account give `
` them commendation for a defect. (As the opposite of the German `
` inexperience and innocence IN VOLUPTATE PSYCHOLOGICA, which is `
` not too remotely associated with the tediousness of German `
` intercourse,--and as the most successful expression of genuine `
` French curiosity and inventive talent in this domain of delicate `
` thrills, Henri Beyle may be noted; that remarkable anticipatory `
` and forerunning man, who, with a Napoleonic TEMPO, traversed HIS `
` Europe, in fact, several centuries of the European soul, as a `
` surveyor and discoverer thereof:--it has required two generations `
` to OVERTAKE him one way or other, to divine long afterwards some `
` of the riddles that perplexed and enraptured him--this strange `
` Epicurean and man of interrogation, the last great psychologist `
` of France).--There is yet a THIRD claim to superiority: in the `
` French character there is a successful half-way synthesis of the `
` North and South, which makes them comprehend many things, and `
` enjoins upon them other things, which an Englishman can never `
` comprehend. Their temperament, turned alternately to and from the `
` South, in which from time to time the Provencal and Ligurian `
` blood froths over, preserves them from the dreadful, northern `
` grey-in-grey, from sunless conceptual-spectrism and from poverty `
` of blood--our GERMAN infirmity of taste, for the excessive `
` prevalence of which at the present moment, blood and iron, that `
` is to say "high politics," has with great resolution been `
` prescribed (according to a dangerous healing art, which bids me `
` wait and wait, but not yet hope).--There is also still in France `
` a pre-understanding and ready welcome for those rarer and rarely `
` gratified men, who are too comprehensive to find satisfaction in `
` any kind of fatherlandism, and know how to love the South when in `
` the North and the North when in the South--the born Midlanders, `
` the "good Europeans." For them BIZET has made music, this latest `
` genius, who has seen a new beauty and seduction,--who has `
` discovered a piece of the SOUTH IN MUSIC. `
` `
` 255. I hold that many precautions should be taken against German `
` music. Suppose a person loves the South as I love it--as a great `
` school of recovery for the most spiritual and the most sensuous `
` ills, as a boundless solar profusion and effulgence which `
` o'erspreads a sovereign existence believing in itself--well, such `
` a person will learn to be somewhat on his guard against German `
` music, because, in injuring his taste anew, it will also injure `
` his health anew. Such a Southerner, a Southerner not by origin `
` but by BELIEF, if he should dream of the future of music, must `
` also dream of it being freed from the influence of the North; and `
` must have in his ears the prelude to a deeper, mightier, and `
` perhaps more perverse and mysterious music, a super-German music, `
` which does not fade, pale, and die away, as all German music `
` does, at the sight of the blue, wanton sea and the Mediterranean `
` clearness of sky--a super-European music, which holds its own `
` even in presence of the brown sunsets of the desert, whose soul `
` is akin to the palm-tree, and can be at home and can roam with `
` big, beautiful, lonely beasts of prey . . . I could imagine a music `
` of which the rarest charm would be that it knew nothing more of `
` good and evil; only that here and there perhaps some sailor's `
` home-sickness, some golden shadows and tender weaknesses might `
` sweep lightly over it; an art which, from the far distance, would `
` see the colours of a sinking and almost incomprehensible MORAL `
` world fleeing towards it, and would be hospitable enough and `
` profound enough to receive such belated fugitives. `
` `
` 256. Owing to the morbid estrangement which the nationality-craze `
` has induced and still induces among the nations of Europe, owing `
`
` already reached my SERIOUS TOPIC, the "European problem," as I `
` understand it, the rearing of a new ruling caste for Europe. `
` `
` 252. They are not a philosophical race--the English: Bacon `
` represents an ATTACK on the philosophical spirit generally, `
` Hobbes, Hume, and Locke, an abasement, and a depreciation of the `
` idea of a "philosopher" for more than a century. It was AGAINST `
` Hume that Kant uprose and raised himself; it was Locke of whom `
` Schelling RIGHTLY said, "JE MEPRISE LOCKE"; in the struggle `
` against the English mechanical stultification of the world, Hegel `
` and Schopenhauer (along with Goethe) were of one accord; the two `
` hostile brother-geniuses in philosophy, who pushed in different `
` directions towards the opposite poles of German thought, and `
` thereby wronged each other as only brothers will do.--What is `
` lacking in England, and has always been lacking, that half-actor `
` and rhetorician knew well enough, the absurd muddle-head, `
` Carlyle, who sought to conceal under passionate grimaces what he `
` knew about himself: namely, what was LACKING in Carlyle--real `
` POWER of intellect, real DEPTH of intellectual perception, in `
` short, philosophy. It is characteristic of such an `
` unphilosophical race to hold on firmly to Christianity--they NEED `
` its discipline for "moralizing" and humanizing. The Englishman, `
` more gloomy, sensual, headstrong, and brutal than the German--is `
` for that very reason, as the baser of the two, also the most `
` pious: he has all the MORE NEED of Christianity. To finer `
` nostrils, this English Christianity itself has still a `
` characteristic English taint of spleen and alcoholic excess, for `
` which, owing to good reasons, it is used as an antidote--the `
` finer poison to neutralize the coarser: a finer form of poisoning `
` is in fact a step in advance with coarse-mannered people, a step `
` towards spiritualization. The English coarseness and rustic `
` demureness is still most satisfactorily disguised by Christian `
` pantomime, and by praying and psalm-singing (or, more correctly, `
` it is thereby explained and differently expressed); and for the `
` herd of drunkards and rakes who formerly learned moral grunting `
` under the influence of Methodism (and more recently as the `
` "Salvation Army"), a penitential fit may really be the relatively `
` highest manifestation of "humanity" to which they can be `
` elevated: so much may reasonably be admitted. That, however, `
` which offends even in the humanest Englishman is his lack of `
` music, to speak figuratively (and also literally): he has neither `
` rhythm nor dance in the movements of his soul and body; indeed, `
` not even the desire for rhythm and dance, for "music." Listen to `
` him speaking; look at the most beautiful Englishwoman WALKING--in `
` no country on earth are there more beautiful doves and swans; `
` finally, listen to them singing! But I ask too much . . . `
` `
` 253. There are truths which are best recognized by mediocre `
` minds, because they are best adapted for them, there are truths `
` which only possess charms and seductive power for mediocre `
` spirits:--one is pushed to this probably unpleasant conclusion, `
` now that the influence of respectable but mediocre Englishmen--I `
` may mention Darwin, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer--begins `
` to gain the ascendancy in the middle-class region of European `
` taste. Indeed, who could doubt that it is a useful thing for SUCH `
` minds to have the ascendancy for a time? It would be an error to `
` consider the highly developed and independently soaring minds as `
` specially qualified for determining and collecting many little `
` common facts, and deducing conclusions from them; as exceptions, `
` they are rather from the first in no very favourable position `
` towards those who are "the rules." After all, they have more to `
` do than merely to perceive:--in effect, they have to BE something `
` new, they have to SIGNIFY something new, they have to REPRESENT `
` new values! The gulf between knowledge and capacity is perhaps `
` greater, and also more mysterious, than one thinks: the capable `
` man in the grand style, the creator, will possibly have to be an `
` ignorant person;--while on the other hand, for scientific `
` discoveries like those of Darwin, a certain narrowness, aridity, `
` and industrious carefulness (in short, something English) may not `
` be unfavourable for arriving at them.--Finally, let it not be `
` forgotten that the English, with their profound mediocrity, `
` brought about once before a general depression of European `
` intelligence. `
` `
` What is called "modern ideas," or "the ideas of the eighteenth `
` century," or "French ideas"--that, consequently, against which `
` the GERMAN mind rose up with profound disgust--is of English `
` origin, there is no doubt about it. The French were only the apes `
` and actors of these ideas, their best soldiers, and likewise, `
` alas! their first and profoundest VICTIMS; for owing to the `
` diabolical Anglomania of "modern ideas," the AME FRANCAIS has in `
` the end become so thin and emaciated, that at present one recalls `
` its sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, its profound, passionate `
` strength, its inventive excellency, almost with disbelief. One `
` must, however, maintain this verdict of historical justice in a `
` determined manner, and defend it against present prejudices and `
` appearances: the European NOBLESSE--of sentiment, taste, and `
` manners, taking the word in every high sense--is the work and `
` invention of FRANCE; the European ignobleness, the plebeianism of `
` modern ideas--is ENGLAND'S work and invention. `
` `
` 254. Even at present France is still the seat of the most `
` intellectual and refined culture of Europe, it is still the high `
` school of taste; but one must know how to find this "France of `
` taste." He who belongs to it keeps himself well concealed:--they `
` may be a small number in whom it lives and is embodied, besides `
` perhaps being men who do not stand upon the strongest legs, in `
` part fatalists, hypochondriacs, invalids, in part persons over- `
` indulged, over-refined, such as have the AMBITION to conceal `
` themselves. `
` `
` They have all something in common: they keep their ears closed in `
` presence of the delirious folly and noisy spouting of the `
` democratic BOURGEOIS. In fact, a besotted and brutalized France `
` at present sprawls in the foreground--it recently celebrated a `
` veritable orgy of bad taste, and at the same time of self- `
` admiration, at the funeral of Victor Hugo. There is also `
` something else common to them: a predilection to resist `
` intellectual Germanizing--and a still greater inability to do so! `
` In this France of intellect, which is also a France of pessimism, `
` Schopenhauer has perhaps become more at home, and more indigenous `
` than he has ever been in Germany; not to speak of Heinrich Heine, `
` who has long ago been re-incarnated in the more refined and `
` fastidious lyrists of Paris; or of Hegel, who at present, in the `
` form of Taine--the FIRST of living historians--exercises an `
` almost tyrannical influence. As regards Richard Wagner, however, `
` the more French music learns to adapt itself to the actual needs `
` of the AME MODERNE, the more will it "Wagnerite"; one can safely `
` predict that beforehand,--it is already taking place `
` sufficiently! There are, however, three things which the French `
` can still boast of with pride as their heritage and possession, `
` and as indelible tokens of their ancient intellectual superiority `
` in Europe, in spite of all voluntary or involuntary Germanizing `
` and vulgarizing of taste. FIRSTLY, the capacity for artistic `
` emotion, for devotion to "form," for which the expression, L'ART `
` POUR L'ART, along with numerous others, has been invented:--such `
` capacity has not been lacking in France for three centuries; and `
` owing to its reverence for the "small number," it has again and `
` again made a sort of chamber music of literature possible, which `
` is sought for in vain elsewhere in Europe.--The SECOND thing `
` whereby the French can lay claim to a superiority over Europe is `
` their ancient, many-sided, MORALISTIC culture, owing to which one `
` finds on an average, even in the petty ROMANCIERS of the `
` newspapers and chance BOULEVARDIERS DE PARIS, a psychological `
` sensitiveness and curiosity, of which, for example, one has no `
` conception (to say nothing of the thing itself!) in Germany. The `
` Germans lack a couple of centuries of the moralistic work `
` requisite thereto, which, as we have said, France has not `
` grudged: those who call the Germans "naive" on that account give `
` them commendation for a defect. (As the opposite of the German `
` inexperience and innocence IN VOLUPTATE PSYCHOLOGICA, which is `
` not too remotely associated with the tediousness of German `
` intercourse,--and as the most successful expression of genuine `
` French curiosity and inventive talent in this domain of delicate `
` thrills, Henri Beyle may be noted; that remarkable anticipatory `
` and forerunning man, who, with a Napoleonic TEMPO, traversed HIS `
` Europe, in fact, several centuries of the European soul, as a `
` surveyor and discoverer thereof:--it has required two generations `
` to OVERTAKE him one way or other, to divine long afterwards some `
` of the riddles that perplexed and enraptured him--this strange `
` Epicurean and man of interrogation, the last great psychologist `
` of France).--There is yet a THIRD claim to superiority: in the `
` French character there is a successful half-way synthesis of the `
` North and South, which makes them comprehend many things, and `
` enjoins upon them other things, which an Englishman can never `
` comprehend. Their temperament, turned alternately to and from the `
` South, in which from time to time the Provencal and Ligurian `
` blood froths over, preserves them from the dreadful, northern `
` grey-in-grey, from sunless conceptual-spectrism and from poverty `
` of blood--our GERMAN infirmity of taste, for the excessive `
` prevalence of which at the present moment, blood and iron, that `
` is to say "high politics," has with great resolution been `
` prescribed (according to a dangerous healing art, which bids me `
` wait and wait, but not yet hope).--There is also still in France `
` a pre-understanding and ready welcome for those rarer and rarely `
` gratified men, who are too comprehensive to find satisfaction in `
` any kind of fatherlandism, and know how to love the South when in `
` the North and the North when in the South--the born Midlanders, `
` the "good Europeans." For them BIZET has made music, this latest `
` genius, who has seen a new beauty and seduction,--who has `
` discovered a piece of the SOUTH IN MUSIC. `
` `
` 255. I hold that many precautions should be taken against German `
` music. Suppose a person loves the South as I love it--as a great `
` school of recovery for the most spiritual and the most sensuous `
` ills, as a boundless solar profusion and effulgence which `
` o'erspreads a sovereign existence believing in itself--well, such `
` a person will learn to be somewhat on his guard against German `
` music, because, in injuring his taste anew, it will also injure `
` his health anew. Such a Southerner, a Southerner not by origin `
` but by BELIEF, if he should dream of the future of music, must `
` also dream of it being freed from the influence of the North; and `
` must have in his ears the prelude to a deeper, mightier, and `
` perhaps more perverse and mysterious music, a super-German music, `
` which does not fade, pale, and die away, as all German music `
` does, at the sight of the blue, wanton sea and the Mediterranean `
` clearness of sky--a super-European music, which holds its own `
` even in presence of the brown sunsets of the desert, whose soul `
` is akin to the palm-tree, and can be at home and can roam with `
` big, beautiful, lonely beasts of prey . . . I could imagine a music `
` of which the rarest charm would be that it knew nothing more of `
` good and evil; only that here and there perhaps some sailor's `
` home-sickness, some golden shadows and tender weaknesses might `
` sweep lightly over it; an art which, from the far distance, would `
` see the colours of a sinking and almost incomprehensible MORAL `
` world fleeing towards it, and would be hospitable enough and `
` profound enough to receive such belated fugitives. `
` `
` 256. Owing to the morbid estrangement which the nationality-craze `
` has induced and still induces among the nations of Europe, owing `
`