--- title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra" author: "Friedrich Nietzsche" translator: "Thomas Common" languages: [en] shelf: "Philosophy" section: 29 of 95 url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/29/ cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 29. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/29/" --- # Thus Spake Zarathustra *Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common* A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs. ## 29. XXV. The Pitiful Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/29/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/29/#p-N [¶0] My friends, there hath arisen a satire on your friend: “Behold Zarathustra! Walketh he not amongst us as if amongst animals?” [¶1] But it is better said in this wise: “The discerning one walketh amongst men AS amongst animals.” [¶2] Man himself is to the discerning one: the animal with red cheeks. [¶3] How hath that happened unto him? Is it not because he hath had to be ashamed too oft? [¶4] O my friends! Thus speaketh the discerning one: shame, shame, shame—that is the history of man! [¶5] And on that account doth the noble one enjoin upon himself not to abash: bashfulness doth he enjoin on himself in presence of all sufferers. [¶6] Verily, I like them not, the merciful ones, whose bliss is in their pity: too destitute are they of bashfulness. [¶7] If I must be pitiful, I dislike to be called so; and if I be so, it is preferably at a distance. [¶8] Preferably also do I shroud my head, and flee, before being recognised: and thus do I bid you do, my friends! [¶9] May my destiny ever lead unafflicted ones like you across my path, and those with whom I MAY have hope and repast and honey in common! [¶10] Verily, I have done this and that for the afflicted: but something better did I always seem to do when I had learned to enjoy myself better. [¶11] Since humanity came into being, man hath enjoyed himself too little: that alone, my brethren, is our original sin! [¶12] And when we learn better to enjoy ourselves, then do we unlearn best to give pain unto others, and to contrive pain. [¶13] Therefore do I wash the hand that hath helped the sufferer; therefore do I wipe also my soul. [¶14] For in seeing the sufferer suffering—thereof was I ashamed on account of his shame; and in helping him, sorely did I wound his pride. [¶15] Great obligations do not make grateful, but revengeful; and when a small kindness is not forgotten, it becometh a gnawing worm. [¶16] “Be shy in accepting! Distinguish by accepting!”—thus do I advise those who have naught to bestow. [¶17] I, however, am a bestower: willingly do I bestow as friend to friends. Strangers, however, and the poor, may pluck for themselves the fruit from my tree: thus doth it cause less shame. [¶18] Beggars, however, one should entirely do away with! Verily, it annoyeth one to give unto them, and it annoyeth one not to give unto them. [¶19] And likewise sinners and bad consciences! Believe me, my friends: the sting of conscience teacheth one to sting. [¶20] The worst things, however, are the petty thoughts. Verily, better to have done evilly than to have thought pettily! [¶21] To be sure, ye say: “The delight in petty evils spareth one many a great evil deed.” But here one should not wish to be sparing. [¶22] Like a boil is the evil deed: it itcheth and irritateth and breaketh forth—it speaketh honourably. [¶23] “Behold, I am disease,” saith the evil deed: that is its honourableness. [¶24] But like infection is the petty thought: it creepeth and hideth, and wanteth to be nowhere—until the whole body is decayed and withered by the petty infection. [¶25] To him however, who is possessed of a devil, I would whisper this word in the ear: “Better for thee to rear up thy devil! Even for thee there is still a path to greatness!”— [¶26] Ah, my brethren! One knoweth a little too much about every one! And many a one becometh transparent to us, but still we can by no means penetrate him. [¶27] It is difficult to live among men because silence is so difficult. [¶28] And not to him who is offensive to us are we most unfair, but to him who doth not concern us at all. [¶29] If, however, thou hast a suffering friend, then be a resting-place for his suffering; like a hard bed, however, a camp-bed: thus wilt thou serve him best. [¶30] And if a friend doeth thee wrong, then say: “I forgive thee what thou hast done unto me; that thou hast done it unto THYSELF, however—how could I forgive that!” [¶31] Thus speaketh all great love: it surpasseth even forgiveness and pity. [¶32] One should hold fast one’s heart; for when one letteth it go, how quickly doth one’s head run away! [¶33] Ah, where in the world have there been greater follies than with the pitiful? And what in the world hath caused more suffering than the follies of the pitiful? [¶34] Woe unto all loving ones who have not an elevation which is above their pity! [¶35] Thus spake the devil unto me, once on a time: “Even God hath his hell: it is his love for man.” [¶36] And lately, did I hear him say these words: “God is dead: of his pity for man hath God died.”— [¶37] So be ye warned against pity: FROM THENCE there yet cometh unto men a heavy cloud! Verily, I understand weather-signs! [¶38] But attend also to this word: All great love is above all its pity: for it seeketh—to create what is loved! [¶39] “Myself do I offer unto my love, AND MY NEIGHBOUR AS MYSELF”—such is the language of all creators. [¶40] All creators, however, are hard.— [¶41] Thus spake Zarathustra.