Book Two: A Criticism of the Highest Values That Have Prevailed Hitherto
II: Criticism of Morality§278 Within the confines of a herd or of a community, that is to say, inter pares, the over-estimation of truthfulness is very reasonable. A man must not allow himself to be deceived and consequently he adopts as his own personal morality that he should deceive no one! A sort of mutual obligation among equals! In his dealings with the outside world, caution and danger demand that he should be on his guard against deception: the first psychological condition of this attitude would mean that he is also on his guard against his inner self. Mistrust thus appears as the source of truthfulness.