_Virtue_[6] has all the instincts of the average man against it: it is not profitable, it is not prudent, and it isolates. It is related to passion, and not very accessible to reason; it spoils the character, the head, and the senses--always, of course, subject to the medium standard of men; it provokes hostility towards order, and towards the _lies_ which are concealed beneath all order, all institutions, and all reality--when seen in the light of its pernicious influence upon _others,_ it is _the worst of vices_. I recognise virtue in that: (1) it does not insist upon being recognised; (2) it does not presuppose the existence of virtue everywhere, but precisely something else; (3) it does _not suffer_ from the absence of virtue, but regards it rather as a relation of perspective which throws virtue into relief: it does not proclaim itself; (4) it makes no propaganda; (5) it allows no one to pose as judge because it is always a _personal_ virtue; (6) it does precisely what is generally _forbidden_: virtue as I understand it is the actual _vetitum_ within all gregarious legislation; (7) in short, I recognise virtue in that it is in the Renaissance style--_virtù_--free from all moralic acid.... [Footnote 6: TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.--Virtue is used here, of course, in the sense of "the excellence of man," not in the sense of the Christian negative virtue.] 318. In the first place[7] Messrs. Virtue-mongers, you have no superiority over us; we should like to make you take _modesty_ a little more to heart: it is wretched personal interests and prudence which suggest your virtue to you. And if you had more strength and courage in your bodies you would not lower yourselves thus to the level of virtuous nonentities. You make what you can of yourselves: partly what you are obliged to make,--that is to say, what your circumstances force you to _make,_--partly what suits your pleasure and seems useful to you. But if you do only what is in keeping with your inclinations, or what necessity exacts from you, or what is useful to you, you ought _neither to praise yourselves nor let others praise you_!... One is a _thoroughly puny kind of man_ when one is _only_ virtuous: nothing should mislead you in this regard! Men who have to be considered at all, were never such donkeys of virtue: their inmost instinct, that which determined their quantum of power, did not find its reckoning thus: whereas with your minimum amount of power nothing can seem more full of wisdom to you than virtue. But the _multitude_ are on your side: and because you _tyrannise_ over us, we shall fight you.... [Footnote 7: TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.--Here Nietzsche returns to Christian virtue which is negative and moral.] 319.