_The tendency of moral evolution._--Every one's desire is that there should be no other teaching and valuation of things than those by means of which he himself succeeds. Thus the _fundamental tendency_ of the _weak_ and _mediocre_ of all times, has been to _enfeeble the strong and to reduce them to the level of the weak: their chief weapon in this process_ was the _moral principle._ The attitude of the strong towards the weak is branded as evil; the highest states of the strong become bad bywords. The struggle of the many against the strong, of the ordinary against the extraordinary, of the weak against the strong: meets with one of its finest interruptions in the fact that the rare, the refined, the more exacting, present themselves as the weak, and repudiate the coarser weapons of power. 346. (1) The so-called pure instinct for knowledge of all philosophers is dictated to them by their moral "truths," and is only seemingly independent. (2) The "Moral Truths," "thus shall things be done," are mere states of consciousness of an instinct which has grown tired, "thus and thus are things done by us." The "ideal" is supposed to re-establish and strengthen an instinct; it flatters man to feel he can obey when he is only an automaton. 347. _Morality as a means of seduction._--"Nature is good; for a wise and good God is its cause. Who, therefore, is responsible for the 'corruption of man'? Tyrants and seducers and the ruling classes are responsible--they must be wiped out": this is Rousseau's logic (compare with _Pascals_ logic, which concludes by an appeal to original sin). Refer also to _Luther's_ logic, which is similar. In both cases a pretext is sought for the introduction of an insatiable lust of revenge as a _moral and religious_ duty. The hatred directed against the ruling classes tries to _sanctify_ itself ... (the "sinfulness of Israel" is the basis of the priest's powerful position). Compare this with _Pauls_ logic, which is similar. It is always under the cover of God's business that these reactions appear, under the cover of what is right, or of humanity, etc. In the case of _Christ_ the rejoicings of the people appear as the cause of His crucifixion. It was an anti-priestly movement from the beginning. Even in the anti-Semitic movement we find the same trick: the opponent is overcome with moral condemnations, and those who attack him pose as _retributive Justice._ 348.