Belief Quote by Friedrich Nietzsche
“Suspicious.- To admit a belief merely because it is a custom - but that means to be dishonest, cowardly, lazy! - And so could dishonesty, cowardice and laziness be the preconditions for morality?”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Essay: Beyond Good and Evil, 1886
Nietzsche critiques blind conformity, arguing that accepting beliefs solely because they are customary is dishonest and cowardly, questioning whether such flaws can underlie morality.
In simple terms: Following customs without thought is dishonest and weak.
Key Takeaway
Question the roots of your moral beliefs.
Themes
ethics
conformity
authenticity
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
philosophical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- social norms
- political ideology
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
critical thinking
individualism
Questions to Reflect On
- What customs do you accept without scrutiny?
- Can morality exist without some degree of conformity?
A Different Perspective
Might overlook the social cohesion that shared customs provide.
![“I wrote a letter to the magazine [Time magazine] pointing out that [Richard] Corliss's comparison of Christopher Lee's Saruman to Osama Bin Laden, and the vastly outnumbered defenders of Helm's Deep united against the Orcs to the "Coalition of the Willing" fighting the good fight against Muslim…” quote by Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/022/viggo-mortensen-1554_around-the-world_i-wrote-a-letter-to-the-magazine-time-ma_2416080.jpg)
