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Full Idea
There are actions that we will never allow ourselves to engage in, not even as a means to the noblest end e.g., betraying a friend.
Gist of Idea
Some things we would never do, even for the highest ideals
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1881-82 [1882], 7[241])
Book Ref
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Joyful Science, and 1881-82 fragments (v 6)', ed/tr. Del Caro,Adrian [Stanford 2023], p.283
A Reaction
Jean Genet made a point of betraying his friends. I wonder why Nietzsche thinks we should not betray our friends? Being Nietzsche, he will certainly have asked the question.
64 | There is no right time or place or way or person for the committing of adultery; it is just wrong [Aristotle] |
519 | One must avoid even speaking of evil deeds [Democritus (attr)] |
23182 | Legal justice is supreme, because it directs the other virtues to the common good [Aquinas] |
19458 | Egoism is the only evil, love the only good; genuine love produces all the other virtues [Feuerbach] |
24110 | Some things we would never do, even for the highest ideals [Nietzsche] |
4339 | According to virtue ethics, two agents may respond differently, and yet both be right [Hursthouse] |