---
title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra"
author: "Friedrich Nietzsche"
translator: "Thomas Common"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Philosophy"
section: 14 of 95
url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/14/
cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 14. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/14/"
---

# Thus Spake Zarathustra

*Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common*

A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs.

## 14. X. War and Warriors

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/14/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/14/#p-N

[¶0] By our best enemies we do not want to be spared, nor by those either whom we love from the very heart. So let me tell you the truth!

[¶1] My brethren in war! I love you from the very heart. I am, and was ever, your counterpart. And I am also your best enemy. So let me tell you the truth!

[¶2] I know the hatred and envy of your hearts. Ye are not great enough not to know of hatred and envy. Then be great enough not to be ashamed of them!

[¶3] And if ye cannot be saints of knowledge, then, I pray you, be at least its warriors. They are the companions and forerunners of such saintship.

[¶4] I see many soldiers; could I but see many warriors! “Uniform” one calleth what they wear; may it not be uniform what they therewith hide!

[¶5] Ye shall be those whose eyes ever seek for an enemy—for YOUR enemy. And with some of you there is hatred at first sight.

[¶6] Your enemy shall ye seek; your war shall ye wage, and for the sake of your thoughts! And if your thoughts succumb, your uprightness shall still shout triumph thereby!

[¶7] Ye shall love peace as a means to new wars—and the short peace more than the long.

[¶8] You I advise not to work, but to fight. You I advise not to peace, but to victory. Let your work be a fight, let your peace be a victory!

[¶9] One can only be silent and sit peacefully when one hath arrow and bow; otherwise one prateth and quarrelleth. Let your peace be a victory!

[¶10] Ye say it is the good cause which halloweth even war? I say unto you: it is the good war which halloweth every cause.

[¶11] War and courage have done more great things than charity. Not your sympathy, but your bravery hath hitherto saved the victims.

[¶12] “What is good?” ye ask. To be brave is good. Let the little girls say: “To be good is what is pretty, and at the same time touching.”

[¶13] They call you heartless: but your heart is true, and I love the bashfulness of your good-will. Ye are ashamed of your flow, and others are ashamed of their ebb.

[¶14] Ye are ugly? Well then, my brethren, take the sublime about you, the mantle of the ugly!

[¶15] And when your soul becometh great, then doth it become haughty, and in your sublimity there is wickedness. I know you.

[¶16] In wickedness the haughty man and the weakling meet. But they misunderstand one another. I know you.

[¶17] Ye shall only have enemies to be hated, but not enemies to be despised. Ye must be proud of your enemies; then, the successes of your enemies are also your successes.

[¶18] Resistance—that is the distinction of the slave. Let your distinction be obedience. Let your commanding itself be obeying!

[¶19] To the good warrior soundeth “thou shalt” pleasanter than “I will.” And all that is dear unto you, ye shall first have it commanded unto you.

[¶20] Let your love to life be love to your highest hope; and let your highest hope be the highest thought of life!

[¶21] Your highest thought, however, ye shall have it commanded unto you by me—and it is this: man is something that is to be surpassed.

[¶22] So live your life of obedience and of war! What matter about long life! What warrior wisheth to be spared!

[¶23] I spare you not, I love you from my very heart, my brethren in war!—

[¶24] Thus spake Zarathustra.