back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 4557

[from 'The Will to Power (notebooks)' by Friedrich Nietzsche, in 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / e. Honour ]

Full Idea

The type of the ambitious man who thirsts after honour is supposed to be Napoleon, or Caesar, or Alexander! As if these were not precisely the great despisers of honour!

Gist of Idea

The supposed great lovers of honour (Alexander etc) were actually great despisers of honour

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §751)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.397


A Reaction

I'm not sure how Nietzsche knows this, but it sounds right. Great success comes from total focus on the end, not on incidental rewards.