Man alone with himself
The one necessary thing. A person must have one or the other: either a disposition which is easygoing by nature, or else a disposition eased by art and knowledge.
Not too deep. People who comprehend a matter in all its depth seldom remain true to it forever. For they have brought its depth to the light; and then there is always much to see about it that is bad.
The infuriating thing about an individual way of living. People are always angry at anyone who chooses very individual standards for his life; because of the extraordinary treatment which that man grants to himself, they feel degraded, like ordinary beings.
Unwittingly noble. A man's behavior is unwittingly noble if he has grown accustomed never to want anything from men, and always to give to them.
Condition for being a hero. If a man wants to become a hero, the snake must first become a dragon; otherwise he is lacking his proper enemy.
Loyal to their convictions. The man who has a lot to do usually keeps his general views and opinions almost unchanged; as does each person who works in the service of an idea. He will never test the idea itself anymore; he no longer has time for that. Indeed, it is contrary to his interest even to think it possible to discuss it.
Unhappiness. The distinction that lies in being unhappy
(as if to feel happy were a sign of shallowness, lack of ambition, ordinariness) is so great that when someone says, "But how happy you must be" we usually protest.
Weak conscience. Men who talk about their importance for mankind have a weak conscience about their common bourgeois honesty in keeping contracts or promises.
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