---
title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra"
author: "Friedrich Nietzsche"
translator: "Thomas Common"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Philosophy"
section: 8 of 95
url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/8/
cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 8. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/8/"
---

# Thus Spake Zarathustra

*Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common*

A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs.

## 8. IV. The Despisers of the Body

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/8/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/8/#p-N

[¶0] To the despisers of the body will I speak my word. I wish them neither to learn afresh, nor teach anew, but only to bid farewell to their own bodies,—and thus be dumb.

[¶1] “Body am I, and soul”—so saith the child. And why should one not speak like children?

[¶2] But the awakened one, the knowing one, saith: “Body am I entirely, and nothing more; and soul is only the name of something in the body.”

[¶3] The body is a big sagacity, a plurality with one sense, a war and a peace, a flock and a shepherd.

[¶4] An instrument of thy body is also thy little sagacity, my brother, which thou callest “spirit”—a little instrument and plaything of thy big sagacity.

[¶5] “Ego,” sayest thou, and art proud of that word. But the greater thing—in which thou art unwilling to believe—is thy body with its big sagacity; it saith not “ego,” but doeth it.

[¶6] What the sense feeleth, what the spirit discerneth, hath never its end in itself. But sense and spirit would fain persuade thee that they are the end of all things: so vain are they.

[¶7] Instruments and playthings are sense and spirit: behind them there is still the Self. The Self seeketh with the eyes of the senses, it hearkeneth also with the ears of the spirit.

[¶8] Ever hearkeneth the Self, and seeketh; it compareth, mastereth, conquereth, and destroyeth. It ruleth, and is also the ego’s ruler.

[¶9] Behind thy thoughts and feelings, my brother, there is a mighty lord, an unknown sage—it is called Self; it dwelleth in thy body, it is thy body.

[¶10] There is more sagacity in thy body than in thy best wisdom. And who then knoweth why thy body requireth just thy best wisdom?

[¶11] Thy Self laugheth at thine ego, and its proud prancings. “What are these prancings and flights of thought unto me?” it saith to itself. “A by-way to my purpose. I am the leading-string of the ego, and the prompter of its notions.”

[¶12] The Self saith unto the ego: “Feel pain!” And thereupon it suffereth, and thinketh how it may put an end thereto—and for that very purpose it IS MEANT to think.

[¶13] The Self saith unto the ego: “Feel pleasure!” Thereupon it rejoiceth, and thinketh how it may ofttimes rejoice—and for that very purpose it IS MEANT to think.

[¶14] To the despisers of the body will I speak a word. That they despise is caused by their esteem. What is it that created esteeming and despising and worth and will?

[¶15] The creating Self created for itself esteeming and despising, it created for itself joy and woe. The creating body created for itself spirit, as a hand to its will.

[¶16] Even in your folly and despising ye each serve your Self, ye despisers of the body. I tell you, your very Self wanteth to die, and turneth away from life.

[¶17] No longer can your Self do that which it desireth most:—create beyond itself. That is what it desireth most; that is all its fervour.

[¶18] But it is now too late to do so:—so your Self wisheth to succumb, ye despisers of the body.

[¶19] To succumb—so wisheth your Self; and therefore have ye become despisers of the body. For ye can no longer create beyond yourselves.

[¶20] And therefore are ye now angry with life and with the earth. And unconscious envy is in the sidelong look of your contempt.

[¶21] I go not your way, ye despisers of the body! Ye are no bridges for me to the Superman!—

[¶22] Thus spake Zarathustra.