Friedrich_Nietzsche - Untimely_Meditations_(Cambridge_Texts_in_the_History_of_Philosophy__1997)

David Strauss, the confessor and the writertacle to behold Strauss as a metaphysical architect building up intothe clouds. But for whom is this spectacle mounted? For the nobleand contented 'we', so as to preserve their contentment: perhapsthey were overcome by fear in the midst of those merciless wheels ofthe universal machine and tremblingly begged their leader for help.Whereupon Strauss started the 'soothing oil' flowing, led on a Godwho errs out of a passion for error, and assumed for once the whollyuncongenial role of a metaphysical architect. He does all thisbecause his 'we' are afraid and he himself is afraid - and here we discoverthe limits of his courage, even with respect to his 'we'. For hedoes not dare to tell them honestly: I have liberated you from ahelpful and merciful God, the universe is only a rigid machine,take care you are not mangled in its wheels! This he dares not do:so he has to call in the sorceress, that is to say metaphysics. To thephilistine, however, even a Straussian metaphysic is preferable tothe Christian, and the idea of an erring God more attractive thanthat of a miracle-working one. For he himself, the philistine, commitserrors, but has never yet performed a miracle.It is for this very reason that the philistine hates the genius: for thegenius has the justified reputation of performing miracles; and thatis why it is in the highest degree instructive to see why, in one solitarypassage, Strauss for once presents himself as the daring defender ofthe genius and of the aristocratic natures of the spirit. Why does hedo it? From fear, this time fear of the social democrats. He refersthem to Bismarck, Moltke, 'whose greatness can be the less denied asthey advance into the realm of palpable action. Now even the moststiff-necked and surly of these fellows must be constrained to lookupwards a little, so as to get a sight of these exalted figures, even ifonly to the knee.' Do you perhaps desire, Master, to give the socialdemocrats instruction in how to get kicked? The will to deliver suchkicks is to be found everywhere, after all, and that those who are toget kicked can see only 'to the knee' of these exalted figures seems toensure that the kicks will be successfully delivered. 'In the domain ofart and science too', Strauss goes on, 'there will never be a lack ofkings who build and who give work to a host of carters.' Good - butsuppose the carters themselves start to build? It does happen,metaphysical Master, you know that - then the kings will have to grinand bear it.This union of audacity and weakness, of rash words and cowardlyacquiescence, this subtle assessment of how and with what expressionsone can now impress the philistine, now flatter him, this33