← All chapters
Beyond Good and Evil · Chapter
Chapter 78 explained
A brief aphorism exploring the paradoxical self-valuation inherent in the act of self-contempt.
What happens
A brief aphorism exploring the paradoxical self-valuation inherent in the act of self-contempt.
Themes in this chapter
Psychology as the Fundamental Science
Examines the hidden, often contradictory, psychological motives behind an action (despising oneself) to reveal a deeper drive for self-esteem.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Presents the psychological paradox of self-contempt.
Key passages
“He who despises himself, nevertheless esteems himself thereby, as a despiser.”
Even in self-loathing, one finds a form of self-respect through the very capacity and act of judging oneself.
Highlights the inescapability of self-valuation and the will to power operating even in negative self-assessment.