1 Beyond Good and Evil
always to be born to a high station, or, more definitely, they
have to be BRED for it: a person has only a right to philoso-
phy—taking the word in its higher significance—in virtue
of his descent; the ancestors, the ‘blood,’ decide here also.
Many generations must have prepared the way for the com-
ing of the philosopher; each of his virtues must have been
separately acquired, nurtured, transmitted, and embodied;
not only the bold, easy, delicate course and current of his
thoughts, but above all the readiness for great responsibili-
ties, the majesty of ruling glance and contemning look, the
feeling of separation from the multitude with their duties
and virtues, the kindly patronage and defense of whatev-
er is misunderstood and calumniated, be it God or devil,
the delight and practice of supreme justice, the art of com-
manding, the amplitude of will, the lingering eye which
rarely admires, rarely looks up, rarely loves....