Single Idea 4517

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / A. Egoism / 1. Ethical Egoism]

Full Idea

There cannot be anything other than egoism; in men whose ego is weak and thin the power of great love also grows weak.

Gist of Idea

Egoism is inescapable, and when it grows weak, the power of love also grows weak

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §362)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.197


A Reaction

We have captured this now in the popular psychological notion of 'low self-esteem', which blights a persons behaviour. It runs counter to the Christian ideal of self-effacing altruism.