_The more dangerous a quality seems to the herd, the more completely it is condemned._ 277. The morality of _truthfulness_ in the herd. "Thou shalt be recognisable, thou shalt express thy inner nature by means of clear and constant signs--otherwise thou art dangerous: and supposing thou art evil, thy power of dissimulation is absolutely the worst thing for the herd. We despise the secretive and those whom we cannot identify.--_Consequently_ thou must regard thyself as recognisable, thou mayest not remain _concealed_ from thyself, thou mayest not even believe in the possibility of thy ever _changing_." Thus, the insistence upon truthfulness has as its main object the _recognisability_ and the _stability_ of the individual. As a matter of fact, it is the object of education to make each gregarious unit believe in a certain _definite dogma_ concerning the nature of man: education _first creates this dogma_ and thereupon exacts "truthfulness." 278. Within the confines of a herd or of a community--that is to say, _inter pares,_ the _over-estimation_ of truthfulness is very reasonable. A man must not allow himself to be deceived--and _consequently_ he adopts as his own personal morality that he should deceive no one!--a sort of mutual obligation among equals! In his dealings with the outside world caution and danger demand that he should _be on his guard against deception_: the first psychological condition of this attitude would mean that he is also on his guard against _his own people._ Mistrust thus appears as the source of truthfulness. 279. _A criticism of the virtues of the herd._--Inertia is active: (1) In confidence, because mistrust makes suspense, reflection, and observation necessary. (2) In veneration, where the gulf that separates power is great and submission necessary: then, so that fear may cease to exist, everybody tries to love and esteem, while the difference in power is interpreted as a difference of value: and thus the relationship to the powerful _no longer has anything revolting in it._ (3) In the sense of truth. What is truth? Truth is that explanation of things which causes us the smallest amount of mental exertion (apart from this, lying is extremely fatiguing). (4) In sympathy. It is a relief to know one's self on the same level with all, to feel as all feel, and to _accept_ a belief which is already current; it is something passive beside the activity which appropriates and continually carries into practice the most individual rights of valuation (the latter process allows of no repose). (5) In impartiality and coolness of judgment: people scout the strain of being moved, and prefer to be detached and "objective." (6) In uprightness: people prefer to obey a law which is to hand rather than to _create_ a new one, rather than to command themselves and others: the fear of commanding--it is better to submit than to rebel. (7) In toleration: the fear of exercising a right or of enforcing a judgment. 280.