Notational

The second principle of art is as follows: art is the highest power of falsehood, it magnifies the “world as error”, it sanctifies the lie; the will to deception is turned into a superior ideal. This second principle is, in a way, the converse of the first; what is active in life can only be brought into effect in relation to a deeper affirmation. The activity of life is like a power of falsehood, of duping, dissimulating, dazzling, and seducing. But, in order to be brought into effect, this power of falsehood must be selected, redoubled or repeated and thus elevated to a higher power. The power of falsehood must be taken as far as a will to deceive, an artistic will which alone is capable of competing with the ascetic ideal and successfully opposing it. It is art which invents the lies that raise falsehood to this highest affirmative power, that turns the will to deceive into something which is affirmed in the power of falsehood.