There must be self-deception in order that this and that may _produce_
great _effects._ For men believe in the truth of everything that is
visibly, strongly believed in. 1, 71
One of the commonest mistakes is this: because some one is truthful and
honest towards us, he must speak the truth. 1, 71
Why do people mostly speak the truth in daily life?... Because ... the
path of compulsion and authority is surer than that of cunning. 1,72
One may promise actions, but no sentiments, for these are involuntary.
1,76
Our crime against criminals lies in the fact that we treat them like
rascals. 1,79
Every virtue has its privileges; for example, that of contributing its
own little fagot to the scaffold of every condemned man. 1, 80
Why do we over-estimate love to the disadvantage of justice, and say
the most beautiful things about it, as if it were something very much
higher than the latter? Is it not visibly more stupid than justice?
Certainly, but precisely for that reason all the _pleasanter_ for every
one. 1, 81
Hope,--in reality ... is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs
the torments of man. 1, 82
One will seldom go wrong if one attributes extreme actions to vanity,
average ones to habit, and petty ones to fear. 1, 83
Religion is rich in excuses to reply to the demand for suicide, and
thus it ingratiates itself with those who wish to cling to life. 1,
85-86
The injustice of the powerful, which, more than anything else, rouses
indignation in history, is by no means so great as it appears.... One
unconsciously takes it for granted that doer and sufferer think and
feel alike, and according to this supposition we measure the guilt of
the one by the pain of the other. 1, 86-87