And he who hath too much spirit might well become infatuated with stupidity and folly. Think of thyself, O Zarathustra!

Thou thyself — verily, even thou couldst well become an ass through superabundance of wisdom.

Doth not the true sage willingly walk on the crookedest paths? The evidence teacheth it, O Zarathustra — thine own evidence!

And thou thyself, finally, said Zarathustra, and turned towards the ugliest man, who still lay on the ground stretching up his arm to the ass (for he gave it wine to drink). Say, thou nondescript, what hast thou been about!

Thou seemest to me transformed, thine eyes glow, the mantle of the sublime covereth thine ugliness; what didst thou do?

Is it then true what they say, that thou hast again awakened him? And why? Was he not for good reasons killed and made away with?

Thou thyself seemest to me awakened. What didst thou do? Why didst thou turn round? Why didst thou get converted? Speak, thou nondescript!

O Zarathustra, answered the ugliest man, thou art a rogue!

Whether he yet liveth, or again liveth, or is thoroughly dead — which of us both knoweth that best? I ask thee.

One thing however do I know — from thyself did I learn it once, O Zarathustra: he who wanteth to kill most thoroughly, laugheth.

‘Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill’ — thus spakest thou once, O Zarathustra, thou hidden one, thou destroyer without wrath, thou dangerous saint, — thou art a rogue!

2

Then, however, did it come to pass that Zarathustra, astonished at such merely roguish answers, jumped back to the door of his cave, and turning towards all his guests, cried out with a strong voice:

O ye wags, all of you, ye buffoons! Why do ye dissemble and disguise yourselves before me!

How the hearts of all of you convulsed with delight and wickedness, because ye had at last become again like little children — namely, pious —

Because ye at last did again as children do — namely, prayed, folded your hands and said ‘good God’!

But now leave, I pray you, this nursery, mine own cave, where today all childishness is carried on. Cool down, here outside, your hot child-wantonness and heart-tumult!

To be sure: except ye become as little children ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven. (And Zarathustra pointed aloft with his hands.)

But we do not at all want to enter into the kingdom of heaven; we have become men — so we want the kingdom of earth.

3

And once more began Zarathustra to speak: O my new friends, said he — ye strange ones, ye higher men, how well do ye now please me —