The unspoken assumption behind all human association, hidden perhaps to the majority of people but still the grounding principle of their judgements, is that we are all in the same manner miserable sinners: whoever takes others as anything better than this is a fool, whoever represents himself to others as anything better is a presumptuous fop: both are ridiculed. Miserable sinners in art and science; – we admittedly know nothing and are capable of nothing, nevertheless everybody is keen to put his word in: this we modestly permit and confess to one another, speaking and letting speak; whoever takes things otherwise and seriously maintains that he knows or is capable of something, acts against the pact and is presumptuous. Miserable sinners in life: – the ultimate aim of all our exertions is to improve the external conditions of life: who is not aware of that? To be sure, this contractual mode of life requires that we do not admit this to one another in so many words, rather certain excuses are permitted. Everbody must leave everybody else to this unspoken assumption, and anybody who sets himself against this assumption is not only presumptuous but a hypocrite. (The Way Towards the Blessed Life)
