For the soul which hath the longest ladder, and can go deepest down: how could there fail to be most parasites upon it?

The most comprehensive soul, which can run and stray and rove furthest in itself; the most necessary soul, which out of joy flingeth itself into chance—

The soul in Being, which plungeth into Becoming; the possessing soul, which seeketh to attain desire and longing —

The soul fleeing from itself, which overtaketh itself in the widest circuit; the wisest soul, unto which folly speaketh most sweetly —

The soul most self-loving, in which all things have their current and counter-current, their ebb and their flow — oh, how could the loftiest soul fail to have the worst parasites?

20

O my brethren, am I then cruel? But I say: ‘What falleth, that shall one also push!’

Everything of today — it falleth, it decayeth; who would preserve it! But I — I wish also to push it!

Know ye the delight which rolleth stones into precipitous depths? Those men of today, see just how they roll into my depths!

A prelude am I to better players, O my brethren! An example! Do according to mine example!

And him whom ye do not teach to fly, teach I pray you — to fall faster!

21

I love the brave; but it is not enough to be a swordsman — one must also know whereon to use swordsmanship!

And often is it greater bravery to keep quiet and pass by, that thereby one may reserve oneself for a worthier foe!

Ye shall only have foes to be hated, but not foes to be despised; ye must be proud of your foes. Thus have I already taught.

For the worthier foe, O my brethren, shall ye reserve yourselves: therefore must ye pass by many a one —

Especially many of the rabble, who din your ears with noise about people and peoples.

Keep your eye clear of their For and Against! There is there much right, much wrong; he who looketh on becometh wroth.

Therein viewing, therein hewing — they are the same thing: therefore depart into the forests and lay your sword to sleep!

Go your ways! and let the people and peoples go theirs! Gloomy ways, verily, on which not a single hope glinteth any more!

Let there the trader rule, where all that still glittereth is — traders’ gold. It is the time of kings no longer; that which now calleth itself the people is unworthy of kings.

See how these peoples themselves now do just like the traders: they pick up the smallest advantage out of all kinds of rubbish!