Thus Spake Zarathustra - Penn State University

Friedrich NietzscheChapter XXIV. In the Happy Islesand whose criticism is only suppressed envy. “There arethose who preach my doctrine of life,” he says of theWHILE WRITING THIS, Nietzsche is supposed to have been Nietzschean Socialists, “and are at the same time preachersof equality and tarantulas” (see Notes on Chapter XL.thinking of the island of Ischia which was ultimatelydestroyed by an earthquake. His teaching here is quite and Chapter LI.).clear. He was among the first thinkers of Europe to overcomethe pessimism which godlessness generally brings Chapter XXX. The Famous Wise Onesin its wake. He points to creating as the surest salvationfrom the suffering which is a concomitant of all higher THIS REFERS TO ALL those philosophers hitherto, who havelife. “What would there be to create,” he asks, “if there run in the harness of established values and have notwere—Gods?” His ideal, the Superman, lends him the risked their reputation with the people in pursuit of truth.cheerfulness necessary to the overcoming of that despair The philosopher, however, as Nietzsche understood him,usually attendant upon godlessness and upon the apparentaimlessness of a world without a god.in a newis a man who creates new values, and thus leads mankinddirection.Chapter XXIX. The TarantulasChapter XXXIII. The Grave-SongTHE TARANTULAS ARE the Socialists and Democrats. Thisdiscourse offers us an analysis of their mental attitude.Nietzsche refuses to be confounded with those resentfuland revengeful ones who condemn society FROM BELOW,HERE ZARATHUSTRA SINGS about the ideals and friendshipsof his youth. Verses 27 to 31 undoubtedly refer to RichardWagner (see Note on Chapter LXV.).303