# Chapter 266 explained — Beyond Good and Evil

> Chapter companion for Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche.

## What happens

A single aphoristic quote from Goethe is presented, critiquing a form of selflessness or lack of self-regard as a prerequisite for true esteem.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nobility and Order of Rank

Goethe's aphorism implies a standard of valuation where true esteem is reserved for those who transcend petty self-interest, hinting at a noble character type.

## Character check-ins

### Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Author of the quoted aphorism, which serves as the chapter's sole content.

### The Narrator

Presents Goethe's quote without direct commentary, allowing it to stand as a provocative statement.

## Key lines

> “One can only truly esteem him who does not look out for himself.”

Genuine respect is only possible for a person who is not self-seeking.

_The quote sets a high, perhaps paradoxical, standard for earning true esteem, valuing self-abnegation over self-preservation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/266
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters