Single Idea 20274

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / a. Virtues]

Full Idea

Honest towards ourselves and whatever else is our friend; courageous toward the enemy; magnanimous toward the defeated; polite - always. This is how the four cardinal virtues want us to be.

Gist of Idea

The cardinal virtues want us to be honest, brave, magnanimous and polite

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 556)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Dawn (Daybreak) (v 5)', ed/tr. Smith, Brittain [Stanford 2011], p.276


A Reaction

I take this to be Nietzsche genuinely asserting his four cardinal virtues, rather than being ironic. He certainly asserts politeness as the fourth virtue earlier in the book. Cf a different list in Idea 20382

Related Idea

Idea 20382 The four virtues are courage, insight, sympathy, solitude [Nietzsche]