There are many divers ways and modes of surpassing: see thou thereto! But only a buffoon thinketh: ‘man can also be overleapt’.

Surpass thyself even in thy neighbour; and a right which thou canst seize upon, shalt thou not allow to be given thee!

What thou doest can no one do to thee again. Lo, there is no requital.

He who cannot command himself shall obey. And many a one can command himself, but still sorely lacketh self-obedience!

5

Thus wisheth the type of noble souls: they desire to have nothing gratuitously, least of all life.

He who is of the populace wisheth to live gratuitously; we others, however, to whom life hath given itself—we are ever considering what we can best give in return!

And verily, it is a noble dictum which saith: ‘What life promiseth us, that promise will we keep—to life!’

One should not wish to enjoy where one doth not contribute to the enjoyment. And one should not wish to enjoy!

For enjoyment and innocence are the most bashful things. Neither likes to be sought for. One should have them—but one should rather seek for guilt and pain!

6

O my brethren, he who is a firstling is ever sacrificed. Now, however, are we firstlings!

We all bleed on secret sacrificial altars; we all burn and broil in honour of ancient idols.

Our best is still young; this exciteth old palates. Our flesh is tender, our skin is only lambs’ skin—how could we not excite old idol-priests!

In ourselves dwelleth he still, the old idol-priest who broileth our best for his banquet. Ah, my brethren, how could firstlings fail to be sacrifices!

But so wisheth our type, and I love those who do not wish to preserve themselves; the down-going ones do I love with mine entire love, for they go beyond.

7

To be true—that can few be! And he who can, will not! Least of all, however, can the good be true.

Oh, those good ones! Good men never speak the truth. For the spirit thus to be good is a malady.

They yield, those good ones, they submit themselves; their heart repeateth, their soul obeyeth; he, however, who obeyeth, doth not listen to himself!

All that is called evil by the good must come together in order that one truth may be born. O my brethren, are ye also evil enough for this truth?

The daring venture, the prolonged distrust, the cruel Nay, the tedium, the cutting-into-the-quick—how seldom do these come together! Out of such seed, however—is truth produced!