What Brings You Here?

Four Questions Of Conscience

* You’re running ahead?—Are you doing so as a shepherd? Or as an exception? A third case would be the escapee. First question of conscience.

* Are you genuine, or just an actor? A representative? Or the very thing that’s represented? In the end you may simply be an imitation of an actor. Second question of conscience.

* Are you one who looks on? Or one who lends a hand?—Or one who looks away, turns aside. Third question of conscience.

* Do you want to go along? Or go ahead? Or go on your own? One has to know what one wills and that one wills. Fourth question of conscience.

-excerpted from “The Twilight of the Idols, or How to Philosophize with a Hammer” by Nietzsche (1888)