--- title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra" author: "Friedrich Nietzsche" translator: "Thomas Common" languages: [en] shelf: "Philosophy" section: 25 of 95 url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/25/ cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 25. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/25/" --- # Thus Spake Zarathustra *Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common* A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs. ## 25. XXI. Voluntary Death Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/25/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/25/#p-N [¶0] Many die too late, and some die too early. Yet strange soundeth the precept: “Die at the right time!” [¶1] Die at the right time: so teacheth Zarathustra. [¶2] To be sure, he who never liveth at the right time, how could he ever die at the right time? Would that he might never be born!—Thus do I advise the superfluous ones. [¶3] But even the superfluous ones make much ado about their death, and even the hollowest nut wanteth to be cracked. [¶4] Every one regardeth dying as a great matter: but as yet death is not a festival. Not yet have people learned to inaugurate the finest festivals. [¶5] The consummating death I show unto you, which becometh a stimulus and promise to the living. [¶6] His death, dieth the consummating one triumphantly, surrounded by hoping and promising ones. [¶7] Thus should one learn to die; and there should be no festival at which such a dying one doth not consecrate the oaths of the living! [¶8] Thus to die is best; the next best, however, is to die in battle, and sacrifice a great soul. [¶9] But to the fighter equally hateful as to the victor, is your grinning death which stealeth nigh like a thief,—and yet cometh as master. [¶10] My death, praise I unto you, the voluntary death, which cometh unto me because I want it. [¶11] And when shall I want it?—He that hath a goal and an heir, wanteth death at the right time for the goal and the heir. [¶12] And out of reverence for the goal and the heir, he will hang up no more withered wreaths in the sanctuary of life. [¶13] Verily, not the rope-makers will I resemble: they lengthen out their cord, and thereby go ever backward. [¶14] Many a one, also, waxeth too old for his truths and triumphs; a toothless mouth hath no longer the right to every truth. [¶15] And whoever wanteth to have fame, must take leave of honour betimes, and practise the difficult art of—going at the right time. [¶16] One must discontinue being feasted upon when one tasteth best: that is known by those who want to be long loved. [¶17] Sour apples are there, no doubt, whose lot is to wait until the last day of autumn: and at the same time they become ripe, yellow, and shrivelled. [¶18] In some ageth the heart first, and in others the spirit. And some are hoary in youth, but the late young keep long young. [¶19] To many men life is a failure; a poison-worm gnaweth at their heart. Then let them see to it that their dying is all the more a success. [¶20] Many never become sweet; they rot even in the summer. It is cowardice that holdeth them fast to their branches. [¶21] Far too many live, and far too long hang they on their branches. Would that a storm came and shook all this rottenness and worm-eatenness from the tree! [¶22] Would that there came preachers of SPEEDY death! Those would be the appropriate storms and agitators of the trees of life! But I hear only slow death preached, and patience with all that is “earthly.” [¶23] Ah! ye preach patience with what is earthly? This earthly is it that hath too much patience with you, ye blasphemers! [¶24] Verily, too early died that Hebrew whom the preachers of slow death honour: and to many hath it proved a calamity that he died too early. [¶25] As yet had he known only tears, and the melancholy of the Hebrews, together with the hatred of the good and just—the Hebrew Jesus: then was he seized with the longing for death. [¶26] Had he but remained in the wilderness, and far from the good and just! Then, perhaps, would he have learned to live, and love the earth—and laughter also! [¶27] Believe it, my brethren! He died too early; he himself would have disavowed his doctrine had he attained to my age! Noble enough was he to disavow! [¶28] But he was still immature. Immaturely loveth the youth, and immaturely also hateth he man and earth. Confined and awkward are still his soul and the wings of his spirit. [¶29] But in man there is more of the child than in the youth, and less of melancholy: better understandeth he about life and death. [¶30] Free for death, and free in death; a holy Naysayer, when there is no longer time for Yea: thus understandeth he about death and life. [¶31] That your dying may not be a reproach to man and the earth, my friends: that do I solicit from the honey of your soul. [¶32] In your dying shall your spirit and your virtue still shine like an evening after-glow around the earth: otherwise your dying hath been unsatisfactory. [¶33] Thus will I die myself, that ye friends may love the earth more for my sake; and earth will I again become, to have rest in her that bore me. [¶34] Verily, a goal had Zarathustra; he threw his ball. Now be ye friends the heirs of my goal; to you throw I the golden ball. [¶35] Best of all, do I see you, my friends, throw the golden ball! And so tarry I still a little while on the earth—pardon me for it! [¶36] Thus spake Zarathustra.