← All chapters
Beyond Good and Evil · Chapter
98 explained
A single, aphoristic reflection on the paradoxical nature of a trained conscience, which both rewards and punishes.
What happens
A single, aphoristic reflection on the paradoxical nature of a trained conscience, which both rewards and punishes.
Themes in this chapter
Psychology as the Fundamental Science
The aphorism is a psychological observation, analyzing the complex, dualistic relationship one has with an internalized moral faculty.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Presents the aphorism, offering a psychological insight into the nature of conscience.
Key passages
“When one trains one’s conscience, it kisses one while it bites.”
A cultivated conscience provides the reward of self-approval (a kiss) simultaneously with the pain of self-reproach (a bite).
Highlights the internal duality and ambivalence of a developed moral sense.