How is it possible that a man can respect himself _only_ in regard to moral values, that he subordinates and despises everything in favour of good, evil, improvement, spiritual salvation, etc.? as, for instance, Henri Fréd. Amiel. What is the meaning of the _moral idiosyncrasy_?--I mean this both in the psychological and physiological sense, as it was, for instance, in Pascal. In cases, then, in which _other_ great qualities are not wanting; and even in the case of Schopenhauer, who obviously valued what he did not and _could_ not have ...--is it not the result of a merely mechanical _moral interpretation_ of real states of pain and displeasure? is it not a particular form of _sensibility_ which does _not_ happen to _understand_ the cause of its many unpleasurable feelings, but _thinks to explain them with moral hypotheses?_ In this way an occasional feeling of well-being and _strength_ always appears under the optics of a "clean conscience," flooded with light through the proximity of God and the consciousness of salvation.... Thus the _moral idiosyncratist_ has (1) _either_ acquired his real worth in approximating to the virtuous type of society: "the good fellow," "_the upright man_"--a sort of medium state of high respectability: _mediocre_ in all his abilities, but honest, conscientious, firm, respected, and tried, in all his aspirations; (2) _or,_ he imagines he has acquired that worth, simply because he cannot otherwise understand all his states--he is unknown to himself; he therefore interprets himself in this fashion.--Morality is the only _scheme of interpretation_ by means of which this type of man can tolerate himself:--is it a form of vanity? 271. _The predominance of moral values._--The consequence of this predominance: the corruption of psychology, etc.; the fatality which is associated with it everywhere. What is the _meaning_ of this predominance? What does it point to? To a certain _greater urgency_ of saying nay or yea definitely in this domain. All sorts of _imperatives_ have been used in order to make moral values appear as if they were for ever fixed:--they have been enjoined for the longest period of time: they almost appear to be instinctive, like inner commands. They are the expression of _society's preservative measures,_ for they are felt to be almost _beyond question._ The practice--that is to say, the _utility_ of being agreed concerning superior values, has attained in this respect to a sort of sanction. We observe that every care is taken to paralyse reflection and criticism in this department--look at Kant's attitude! not to speak of those who believe that it is immoral even to prosecute "research" in these matters. 272.