Shrewd, sly, foxy

To make discoveries even with regard to evil, with regard to sin and the multitude of sins, to be the shrewd, sly, foxy, perhaps more or less corrupt observer who can really make discoveries – this is highly regarded in the world. Even a youth upon first stepping out into life is very eager to divulge how he knows and has discovered evil (because he is reluctant to have the world call him a simpleton). Even a woman in her earliest youth is very eager to divulge; she is vain about being a judge of human nature, naturally with regard to evil (because she is reluctant to have the world call her a silly little goose or a small-town beauty). Yes, it is incredible how the world has changed compared with ancient times; then there were only a few who knew themselves, and now everyone is a judge of human nature. And this is the remarkable thing: if someone has discovered how fundamentally good-natured almost every human being is, he would hardly dare to acknowledge his discovery, and he would…