The insistence upon spreading "humaneness" (which guilelessly starts out with the assumption that it is in possession of the formula "What is human") is all humbug, beneath the cover of which a certain definite type of man strives to attain to power: or, more precisely, a very particular kind of instinct--the _gregarious instinct._ "The equality of men": this is what lies _concealed_ behind the tendency of _making_ ever more and more men _alike_ as men. _The "interested nature" of the morality of ordinary people._ (The trick was to elevate the great passions for power and property to the positions of protectors of virtue.) To what extent do all kinds of _business men_ and money-grabbers--all those who give and take credit--find it _necessary_ to promote the levelling of all characters and notions of value? the _commerce and the exchange of the world_ leads to, and almost purchases, virtue. The _State_ exercises the same influence, as does also any sort of ruling power at the head of officials and soldiers; _science_ acts in the same way, in order that it may work in security and economise its forces. And the _priesthood_ does the same. Communal morality is thus promoted here, because it is advantageous; and, in order to make it triumph, war and violence are waged against immorality--with what "right"? Without any right whatsoever; but in accordance with the instinct of self-preservation. The same classes avail themselves of immorality when it serves their purpose to do so. 316. Observe the hypocritical colour which all _civil institutions_ are painted, just as if they were _the offshoots of morality_--for instance: marriage, work, calling, patriotism, the family, order, and rights. But as they were all established in favour of the _most mediocre_ type of man, to protect him from exceptions and the need of exceptions, one must not be surprised to find them sown with lies. 317. _Virtue_ must be defended against its preachers: they are its worst enemies. For they teach virtue as an ideal _for all_; they divest virtue of the charm which consists in its rareness, its inimitableness, its exceptional and non-average character--that is to say, of its _aristocratic charm._ A stand must also be made against those embittered idealists who eagerly tap all pots and are satisfied to hear them ring hollow: what ingenuousness--to _demand_ great and rare things, and then to declare, with anger and contempt of one's fellows, that they do not exist!--It is obvious, for instance, that a _marriage_ is worth only as much as those are worth whom it joins--that is to say, that on the whole it is something wretched and indecent: no priest or registrar can make anything else of it.