--- title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra" author: "Friedrich Nietzsche" translator: "Thomas Common" languages: [en] shelf: "Philosophy" section: 30 of 95 url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/30/ cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 30. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/30/" --- # Thus Spake Zarathustra *Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common* A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs. ## 30. XXVI. The Priests Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/30/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/30/#p-N [¶0] And one day Zarathustra made a sign to his disciples, and spake these words unto them: [¶1] “Here are priests: but although they are mine enemies, pass them quietly and with sleeping swords! [¶2] Even among them there are heroes; many of them have suffered too much—: so they want to make others suffer. [¶3] Bad enemies are they: nothing is more revengeful than their meekness. And readily doth he soil himself who toucheth them. [¶4] But my blood is related to theirs; and I want withal to see my blood honoured in theirs.”— [¶5] And when they had passed, a pain attacked Zarathustra; but not long had he struggled with the pain, when he began to speak thus: [¶6] It moveth my heart for those priests. They also go against my taste; but that is the smallest matter unto me, since I am among men. [¶7] But I suffer and have suffered with them: prisoners are they unto me, and stigmatised ones. He whom they call Saviour put them in fetters:— [¶8] In fetters of false values and fatuous words! Oh, that some one would save them from their Saviour! [¶9] On an isle they once thought they had landed, when the sea tossed them about; but behold, it was a slumbering monster! [¶10] False values and fatuous words: these are the worst monsters for mortals—long slumbereth and waiteth the fate that is in them. [¶11] But at last it cometh and awaketh and devoureth and engulfeth whatever hath built tabernacles upon it. [¶12] Oh, just look at those tabernacles which those priests have built themselves! Churches, they call their sweet-smelling caves! [¶13] Oh, that falsified light, that mustified air! Where the soul—may not fly aloft to its height! [¶14] But so enjoineth their belief: “On your knees, up the stair, ye sinners!” [¶15] Verily, rather would I see a shameless one than the distorted eyes of their shame and devotion! [¶16] Who created for themselves such caves and penitence-stairs? Was it not those who sought to conceal themselves, and were ashamed under the clear sky? [¶17] And only when the clear sky looketh again through ruined roofs, and down upon grass and red poppies on ruined walls—will I again turn my heart to the seats of this God. [¶18] They called God that which opposed and afflicted them: and verily, there was much hero-spirit in their worship! [¶19] And they knew not how to love their God otherwise than by nailing men to the cross! [¶20] As corpses they thought to live; in black draped they their corpses; even in their talk do I still feel the evil flavour of charnel-houses. [¶21] And he who liveth nigh unto them liveth nigh unto black pools, wherein the toad singeth his song with sweet gravity. [¶22] Better songs would they have to sing, for me to believe in their Saviour: more like saved ones would his disciples have to appear unto me! [¶23] Naked, would I like to see them: for beauty alone should preach penitence. But whom would that disguised affliction convince! [¶24] Verily, their Saviours themselves came not from freedom and freedom’s seventh heaven! Verily, they themselves never trod the carpets of knowledge! [¶25] Of defects did the spirit of those Saviours consist; but into every defect had they put their illusion, their stop-gap, which they called God. [¶26] In their pity was their spirit drowned; and when they swelled and o’erswelled with pity, there always floated to the surface a great folly. [¶27] Eagerly and with shouts drove they their flock over their foot-bridge; as if there were but one foot-bridge to the future! Verily, those shepherds also were still of the flock! [¶28] Small spirits and spacious souls had those shepherds: but, my brethren, what small domains have even the most spacious souls hitherto been! [¶29] Characters of blood did they write on the way they went, and their folly taught that truth is proved by blood. [¶30] But blood is the very worst witness to truth; blood tainteth the purest teaching, and turneth it into delusion and hatred of heart. [¶31] And when a person goeth through fire for his teaching—what doth that prove! It is more, verily, when out of one’s own burning cometh one’s own teaching! [¶32] Sultry heart and cold head; where these meet, there ariseth the blusterer, the “Saviour.” [¶33] Greater ones, verily, have there been, and higher-born ones, than those whom the people call Saviours, those rapturous blusterers! [¶34] And by still greater ones than any of the Saviours must ye be saved, my brethren, if ye would find the way to freedom! [¶35] Never yet hath there been a Superman. Naked have I seen both of them, the greatest man and the smallest man:— [¶36] All-too-similar are they still to each other. Verily, even the greatest found I—all-too-human!— [¶37] Thus spake Zarathustra.