--- title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra" author: "Friedrich Nietzsche" translator: "Thomas Common" languages: [en] shelf: "Philosophy" section: 15 of 95 url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/15/ cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 15. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/15/" --- # Thus Spake Zarathustra *Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common* A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs. ## 15. XI. The New Idol Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/15/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/15/#p-N [¶0] Somewhere there are still peoples and herds, but not with us, my brethren: here there are states. [¶1] A state? What is that? Well! open now your ears unto me, for now will I say unto you my word concerning the death of peoples. [¶2] A state, is called the coldest of all cold monsters. Coldly lieth it also; and this lie creepeth from its mouth: “I, the state, am the people.” [¶3] It is a lie! Creators were they who created peoples, and hung a faith and a love over them: thus they served life. [¶4] Destroyers, are they who lay snares for many, and call it the state: they hang a sword and a hundred cravings over them. [¶5] Where there is still a people, there the state is not understood, but hated as the evil eye, and as sin against laws and customs. [¶6] This sign I give unto you: every people speaketh its language of good and evil: this its neighbour understandeth not. Its language hath it devised for itself in laws and customs. [¶7] But the state lieth in all languages of good and evil; and whatever it saith it lieth; and whatever it hath it hath stolen. [¶8] False is everything in it; with stolen teeth it biteth, the biting one. False are even its bowels. [¶9] Confusion of language of good and evil; this sign I give unto you as the sign of the state. Verily, the will to death, indicateth this sign! Verily, it beckoneth unto the preachers of death! [¶10] Many too many are born: for the superfluous ones was the state devised! [¶11] See just how it enticeth them to it, the many-too-many! How it swalloweth and cheweth and recheweth them! [¶12] “On earth there is nothing greater than I: it is I who am the regulating finger of God”—thus roareth the monster. And not only the long-eared and short-sighted fall upon their knees! [¶13] Ah! even in your ears, ye great souls, it whispereth its gloomy lies! Ah! it findeth out the rich hearts which willingly lavish themselves! [¶14] Yea, it findeth you out too, ye conquerors of the old God! Weary ye became of the conflict, and now your weariness serveth the new idol! [¶15] Heroes and honourable ones, it would fain set up around it, the new idol! Gladly it basketh in the sunshine of good consciences,—the cold monster! [¶16] Everything will it give YOU, if YE worship it, the new idol: thus it purchaseth the lustre of your virtue, and the glance of your proud eyes. [¶17] It seeketh to allure by means of you, the many-too-many! Yea, a hellish artifice hath here been devised, a death-horse jingling with the trappings of divine honours! [¶18] Yea, a dying for many hath here been devised, which glorifieth itself as life: verily, a hearty service unto all preachers of death! [¶19] The state, I call it, where all are poison-drinkers, the good and the bad: the state, where all lose themselves, the good and the bad: the state, where the slow suicide of all—is called “life.” [¶20] Just see these superfluous ones! They steal the works of the inventors and the treasures of the wise. Culture, they call their theft—and everything becometh sickness and trouble unto them! [¶21] Just see these superfluous ones! Sick are they always; they vomit their bile and call it a newspaper. They devour one another, and cannot even digest themselves. [¶22] Just see these superfluous ones! Wealth they acquire and become poorer thereby. Power they seek for, and above all, the lever of power, much money—these impotent ones! [¶23] See them clamber, these nimble apes! They clamber over one another, and thus scuffle into the mud and the abyss. [¶24] Towards the throne they all strive: it is their madness—as if happiness sat on the throne! Ofttimes sitteth filth on the throne.—and ofttimes also the throne on filth. [¶25] Madmen they all seem to me, and clambering apes, and too eager. Badly smelleth their idol to me, the cold monster: badly they all smell to me, these idolaters. [¶26] My brethren, will ye suffocate in the fumes of their maws and appetites! Better break the windows and jump into the open air! [¶27] Do go out of the way of the bad odour! Withdraw from the idolatry of the superfluous! [¶28] Do go out of the way of the bad odour! Withdraw from the steam of these human sacrifices! [¶29] Open still remaineth the earth for great souls. Empty are still many sites for lone ones and twain ones, around which floateth the odour of tranquil seas. [¶30] Open still remaineth a free life for great souls. Verily, he who possesseth little is so much the less possessed: blessed be moderate poverty! [¶31] There, where the state ceaseth—there only commenceth the man who is not superfluous: there commenceth the song of the necessary ones, the single and irreplaceable melody. [¶32] There, where the state CEASETH—pray look thither, my brethren! Do ye not see it, the rainbow and the bridges of the Superman?— [¶33] Thus spake Zarathustra.