--- title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra" author: "Friedrich Nietzsche" translator: "Thomas Common" languages: [en] shelf: "Philosophy" section: 22 of 95 url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/22/ cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 22. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/22/" --- # Thus Spake Zarathustra *Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common* A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs. ## 22. XVIII. Old and Young Women Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/22/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/22/#p-N [¶0] “Why stealest thou along so furtively in the twilight, Zarathustra? And what hidest thou so carefully under thy mantle? [¶1] Is it a treasure that hath been given thee? Or a child that hath been born thee? Or goest thou thyself on a thief’s errand, thou friend of the evil?”— [¶2] Verily, my brother, said Zarathustra, it is a treasure that hath been given me: it is a little truth which I carry. [¶3] But it is naughty, like a young child; and if I hold not its mouth, it screameth too loudly. [¶4] As I went on my way alone to-day, at the hour when the sun declineth, there met me an old woman, and she spake thus unto my soul: [¶5] “Much hath Zarathustra spoken also to us women, but never spake he unto us concerning woman.” [¶6] And I answered her: “Concerning woman, one should only talk unto men.” [¶7] “Talk also unto me of woman,” said she; “I am old enough to forget it presently.” [¶8] And I obliged the old woman and spake thus unto her: [¶9] Everything in woman is a riddle, and everything in woman hath one solution—it is called pregnancy. [¶10] Man is for woman a means: the purpose is always the child. But what is woman for man? [¶11] Two different things wanteth the true man: danger and diversion. Therefore wanteth he woman, as the most dangerous plaything. [¶12] Man shall be trained for war, and woman for the recreation of the warrior: all else is folly. [¶13] Too sweet fruits—these the warrior liketh not. Therefore liketh he woman;—bitter is even the sweetest woman. [¶14] Better than man doth woman understand children, but man is more childish than woman. [¶15] In the true man there is a child hidden: it wanteth to play. Up then, ye women, and discover the child in man! [¶16] A plaything let woman be, pure and fine like the precious stone, illumined with the virtues of a world not yet come. [¶17] Let the beam of a star shine in your love! Let your hope say: “May I bear the Superman!” [¶18] In your love let there be valour! With your love shall ye assail him who inspireth you with fear! [¶19] In your love be your honour! Little doth woman understand otherwise about honour. But let this be your honour: always to love more than ye are loved, and never be the second. [¶20] Let man fear woman when she loveth: then maketh she every sacrifice, and everything else she regardeth as worthless. [¶21] Let man fear woman when she hateth: for man in his innermost soul is merely evil; woman, however, is mean. [¶22] Whom hateth woman most?—Thus spake the iron to the loadstone: “I hate thee most, because thou attractest, but art too weak to draw unto thee.” [¶23] The happiness of man is, “I will.” The happiness of woman is, “He will.” [¶24] “Lo! now hath the world become perfect!”—thus thinketh every woman when she obeyeth with all her love. [¶25] Obey, must the woman, and find a depth for her surface. Surface, is woman’s soul, a mobile, stormy film on shallow water. [¶26] Man’s soul, however, is deep, its current gusheth in subterranean caverns: woman surmiseth its force, but comprehendeth it not.— [¶27] Then answered me the old woman: “Many fine things hath Zarathustra said, especially for those who are young enough for them. [¶28] Strange! Zarathustra knoweth little about woman, and yet he is right about them! Doth this happen, because with women nothing is impossible? [¶29] And now accept a little truth by way of thanks! I am old enough for it! [¶30] Swaddle it up and hold its mouth: otherwise it will scream too loudly, the little truth.” [¶31] “Give me, woman, thy little truth!” said I. And thus spake the old woman: [¶32] “Thou goest to women? Do not forget thy whip!”— [¶33] Thus spake Zarathustra.