Thou goest beyond them; but the higher thou risest the smaller doth the eye of envy see thee. Most of all, however, is the flying one hated.

‘How could ye be just unto me!’ must thou say. ‘I choose your injustice as my allotted portion.’

Injustice and filth cast they at the lonesome one — but my brother, if thou wouldst be a star, thou must shine for them none the less on that account!

And be on thy guard against the good and just! They would fain crucify those who devise their own virtue — they hate the lonesome ones.

Be on thy guard, also, against holy simplicity! All is unholy to it that is not simple; fain, likewise, would it play with the fire — of the faggot and stake.

And be on thy guard also against the assaults of thy love! Too readily doth the recluse reach his hand to any one who meeteth him.

To many a one mayest thou not give thy hand, but only thy paw; and I wish thy paw also to have claws.

But the worst enemy thou canst meet wilt thou thyself always be; thou waylayest thyself in caverns and forests.

Thou lonesome one, thou goest the way to thyself! And past thyself and thy seven devils leadeth thy way!

A heretic wilt thou be to thyself, and a wizard and a soothsayer, and a fool, and a doubter, and a reprobate,

Ready must thou be to burn thyself in thine own flame; how couldst thou become new if thou have not first become ashes?

Thou lonesome one, thou goest the way of the creating one; a God wilt thou create for thyself out of thy seven devils!

Thou lonesome one, thou goest the way of the loving one; thou lovest thyself, and on that account despisest thou thyself, as only the loving ones despise.

To create, desireth the loving one, because he despiseth! What knoweth he of love who hath not been obliged to despise just what he loved!

With thy love, go into thine isolation, my brother, and with thy creating; and late only will justice limp after thee.

With my tears, go into thine isolation, my brother. I love him who seeketh to create beyond himself, and thus succumbeth.

Thus spake Zarathustra.