A voice whispers, the sound of my conscience, that I am no exception to this mad scenario.

All will choose seduction over prosaic substance, if we have opportunity. We cannot help ourselves — but believe that “someone to lie to me” must also be “someone to watch over me”…

Nations are deceived
so often because they are always looking
for a deceiver,
i.e. a stimulating wine for their senses.

When they can only have this wine
they are glad to put up even with inferior bread.

Intoxication
is to them more than nutriment
—this is the bait with which
they always let themselves be caught!

What, to them,
are men chosen from among themselves
—although they may be the most expert specialists
—as compared with the brilliant conquerors, or ancient
and magnificent princely houses!

In order that
he may inspire them with faith,
the demagogue must at least exhibit to them
a prospect of conquest and splendor.

People will always obey,
and even do more than obey,
provided that they can become intoxicated
in doing so.

We may not even offer
them repose and pleasure
without this laurel crown and its maddening influence.

The Dawn Of Day by Friedrich Nietzsche, trans. by J. M. Kennedy, aphorism 188