Thus Spake Zarathustra - Penn State University

Thus Spake Zarathustraout of Season” Nietzsche speaks as follows about modern am a law only for mine own, I am not a law for all. Thismen: “...these modern creatures wish rather to be hunted —is now MY way,—where is yours?”down, wounded and torn to shreds, than to live alonewith themselves in solitary calm. Alone with oneself!— Chapter LVI. Old and New Tables. Par. 2this thought terrifies the modern soul; it is his one anxiety,his one ghastly fear” (English Edition, page 141). In NIETZSCHE HIMSELF DECLARES this to be the most decisivehis feverish scurry to find entertainment and diversion, portion of the whole of “Thus Spake Zarathustra”. It is awhether in a novel, a newspaper, or a play, the modern sort of epitome of his leading doctrines. In verse 12 ofman condemns his own age utterly; for he shows that in the second paragraph, we learn how he himself wouldhis heart of hearts he despises himself. One cannot change fain have abandoned the poetical method of expressiona condition of this sort in a day; to become endurable to had he not known only too well that the only chance aoneself an inner transformation is necessary. Too long new doctrine has of surviving, nowadays, depends uponhave we lost ourselves in our friends and entertainments its being given to the world in some kind of art-form.to be able to find ourselves so soon at another’s bidding. Just as prophets, centuries ago, often had to have recourseto the mask of madness in order to mitigate the“And verily, it is no commandment for to-day and tomorrowto learn to love oneself. Rather is it of all arts hatred of those who did not and could not see as theythe finest, subtlest, last, and patientest.”did; so, to-day, the struggle for existence among opinionsand values is so great, that an art-form is practicallyIn the last verse Nietzsche challenges us to show that the only garb in which a new philosophy can dare toour way is the right way. In his teaching he does not introduce itself to us.coerce us, nor does he overpersuade; he simply says: “I316