--- title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra" author: "Friedrich Nietzsche" translator: "Thomas Common" languages: [en] shelf: "Philosophy" section: 53 of 95 url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/53/ cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 53. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/53/" --- # Thus Spake Zarathustra *Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common* A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs. ## 53. XLIX. The Bedwarfing Virtue · 1 of 2 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/53/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/53/#p-N ### 1 [¶1] When Zarathustra was again on the continent, he did not go straightway to his mountains and his cave, but made many wanderings and questionings, and ascertained this and that; so that he said of himself jestingly: “Lo, a river that floweth back unto its source in many windings!” For he wanted to learn what had taken place AMONG MEN during the interval: whether they had become greater or smaller. And once, when he saw a row of new houses, he marvelled, and said: [¶2] “What do these houses mean? Verily, no great soul put them up as its simile! [¶3] Did perhaps a silly child take them out of its toy-box? Would that another child put them again into the box! [¶4] And these rooms and chambers—can MEN go out and in there? They seem to be made for silk dolls; or for dainty-eaters, who perhaps let others eat with them.” [¶5] And Zarathustra stood still and meditated. At last he said sorrowfully: “There hath EVERYTHING become smaller! [¶6] Everywhere do I see lower doorways: he who is of MY type can still go therethrough, but—he must stoop! [¶7] Oh, when shall I arrive again at my home, where I shall no longer have to stoop—shall no longer have to stoop BEFORE THE SMALL ONES!”—And Zarathustra sighed, and gazed into the distance.— [¶8] The same day, however, he gave his discourse on the bedwarfing virtue. ### 2 [¶10] I pass through this people and keep mine eyes open: they do not forgive me for not envying their virtues. [¶11] They bite at me, because I say unto them that for small people, small virtues are necessary—and because it is hard for me to understand that small people are NECESSARY! [¶12] Here am I still like a cock in a strange farm-yard, at which even the hens peck: but on that account I am not unfriendly to the hens. [¶13] I am courteous towards them, as towards all small annoyances; to be prickly towards what is small, seemeth to me wisdom for hedgehogs. [¶14] They all speak of me when they sit around their fire in the evening—they speak of me, but no one thinketh—of me! [¶15] This is the new stillness which I have experienced: their noise around me spreadeth a mantle over my thoughts. [¶16] They shout to one another: “What is this gloomy cloud about to do to us? Let us see that it doth not bring a plague upon us!” [¶17] And recently did a woman seize upon her child that was coming unto me: “Take the children away,” cried she, “such eyes scorch children’s souls.” [¶18] They cough when I speak: they think coughing an objection to strong winds—they divine nothing of the boisterousness of my happiness! [¶19] “We have not yet time for Zarathustra”—so they object; but what matter about a time that “hath no time” for Zarathustra? [¶20] And if they should altogether praise me, how could I go to sleep on THEIR praise? A girdle of spines is their praise unto me: it scratcheth me even when I take it off. [¶21] And this also did I learn among them: the praiser doeth as if he gave back; in truth, however, he wanteth more to be given him! [¶22] Ask my foot if their lauding and luring strains please it! Verily, to such measure and ticktack, it liketh neither to dance nor to stand still. [¶23] To small virtues would they fain lure and laud me; to the ticktack of small happiness would they fain persuade my foot. [¶24] I pass through this people and keep mine eyes open; they have become SMALLER, and ever become smaller:—THE REASON THEREOF IS THEIR DOCTRINE OF HAPPINESS AND VIRTUE. [¶25] For they are moderate also in virtue,—because they want comfort. With comfort, however, moderate virtue only is compatible. [¶26] To be sure, they also learn in their way to stride on and stride forward: that, I call their HOBBLING.—Thereby they become a hindrance to all who are in haste. [¶27] And many of them go forward, and look backwards thereby, with stiffened necks: those do I like to run up against. [¶28] Foot and eye shall not lie, nor give the lie to each other. But there is much lying among small people. [¶29] Some of them WILL, but most of them are WILLED. Some of them are genuine, but most of them are bad actors. [¶30] There are actors without knowing it amongst them, and actors without intending it—, the genuine ones are always rare, especially the genuine actors. [¶31] Of man there is little here: therefore do their women masculinise themselves. For only he who is man enough, will—SAVE THE WOMAN in woman. [¶32] And this hypocrisy found I worst amongst them, that even those who command feign the virtues of those who serve. [¶33] “I serve, thou servest, we serve”—so chanteth here even the hypocrisy of the rulers—and alas! if the first lord be ONLY the first servant! [¶34] Ah, even upon their hypocrisy did mine eyes’ curiosity alight; and well did I divine all their fly-happiness, and their buzzing around sunny window-panes. [¶35] So much kindness, so much weakness do I see. So much justice and pity, so much weakness. [¶36] Round, fair, and considerate are they to one another, as grains of sand are round, fair, and considerate to grains of sand. [¶37] Modestly to embrace a small happiness—that do they call “submission”! and at the same time they peer modestly after a new small happiness. [¶38] In their hearts they want simply one thing most of all: that no one hurt them. Thus do they anticipate every one’s wishes and do well unto every one. [¶39] That, however, is COWARDICE, though it be called “virtue.”— [¶40] And when they chance to speak harshly, those small people, then do I hear therein only their hoarseness—every draught of air maketh them hoarse. [¶41] Shrewd indeed are they, their virtues have shrewd fingers. But they lack fists: their fingers do not know how to creep behind fists. [¶42] Virtue for them is what maketh modest and tame: therewith have they made the wolf a dog, and man himself man’s best domestic animal. [¶43] “We set our chair in the MIDST”—so saith their smirking unto me—“and as far from dying gladiators as from satisfied swine.” [¶44] That, however, is—MEDIOCRITY, though it be called moderation.—