Some final Nietzsche for the night

156 – Who is most influential – When a human being resists his whole age and stops it at the gate to demand an accounting, this must have influence. Whether that is what he desires is immaterial; that he can do it is what matters.

158 An inconvenient trait – To find everything profound – that is an inconvenient trait. It makes one strain one's eyes all the time, and in the end one finds more than one might have wished.

166 Always in our company – Whatever in nature and in history is of my own kind, speaks to me, spurs me on, and comforts me; the rest I do not hear or forget right away. We are always in our own company.

172 Spoiling the taste – A: 'You keep spoiling the taste; that is what everyone says.' B: 'Certainly. I spoil the taste of this party for everyone – and no party forgives that.'

173 Being profound and seeming profound – Those who know they are profound strive for clarity. Those who would like to seem profound strive for obscurity. For the crowd believes that if it cannot see to the bottom of something it must be profound. It is so timid and dislikes going into the water.

174 Apart – Parliamentarianism – that is, public permission to choose between five basic political opinions – flatters and wins the favour of all those who would seem independent and individual, as if they fought for their opinions. Ultimately, however, it is indifferent whether the herd is commanded to have one opinion or permitted to have five. Whoever deviates from the five political opinions and stands apart will always have the whole herd against him.