牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版） - Goodreads

《查拉图斯特拉如是说》是尼采借查拉图斯特拉之名宣讲自己的哲学思想，是尼采里程碑式的作品，几乎包括了尼采的全部思想。

全书用散文诗体写成，以振聋发聩的奇异灼见和 ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版）”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof 牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版）byFriedrichNietzsche. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版） byFriedrichNietzsche morephotos(1) ReadBook* *Differentedition 牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版） by FriedrichNietzsche, [德]弗里德里希·尼采 4.06  ·  Ratingdetails ·  127,464 ratings  ·  4,307 reviews 《查拉图斯特拉如是说》是尼采借查拉图斯特拉之名宣讲自己的哲学思想，是尼采里程碑式的作品，几乎包括了尼采的全部思想。

全书用散文诗体写成，以振聋发聩的奇异灼见和横空出世的警世智慧宣讲“超人哲学”和“权力意志”，横扫了基督教所造成的精神奴性，谱写了一曲自由主义的人性之歌。

本书并不像说教那样枯燥乏味，具有极高的文学价值，在世界哲学史和诗歌史上均占有独特的不朽的地位。

GetACopy AmazonStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibrariesDownloadeBook Paperback Published March1st2016 by译林出版社 (firstpublished1883) MoreDetails... OriginalTitle AlsosprachZarathustra ISBN 7544759792 (ISBN13:9787544759793) EditionLanguage Chinese Characters Zarathustra,Preacher-on-the-Mount OtherEditions(2877) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout 牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版）, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions WhyshouldIreadthisbook? 27likes · like 6yearsago Seeall10answers Simo haveyoueverreadthebibleortheQuran?ifyes!Ithinkthiswaycoolerthanbouthofthem.ifnot!thisisthebestthingNietzschehadeverwritt…morehaveyoueverreadthebibleortheQuran?ifyes!Ithinkthiswaycoolerthanbouthofthem.ifnot!thisisthebestthingNietzschehadeverwritten.(less) flag Isitanoveloraworkofnon-fiction?Ihaveseenevidenceonbothaccountsfromvarioussourcessocansomeoneclarify? 6likes · like 6yearsago Seeall4answers Jester Itisabookofideasthatdoesnotfitneatlyintothecategoriesofnovelornon-fiction.Asaphilosophicalwork,itisnotthetraditionalessay.…moreItisabookofideasthatdoesnotfitneatlyintothecategoriesofnovelornon-fiction.Asaphilosophicalwork,itisnotthetraditionalessay.Itisfullofsymbolism,sosubsequentreadingsarebeneficial,thoughthefirsttimeisspecial.Nietzschedoesnotwanttopersuadeanyoneintoanysystemofbelief.Thisworkisanaction,somethingtobewitnessed.Hewantshisworkofarttodance.(less) flag Seeall20questionsabout牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版）… ListswithThisBook ThisbookisnotyetfeaturedonListopia. Addthisbooktoyourfavoritelist» CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 4.06  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  127,464 ratings  ·  4,307 reviews AllLanguagesAzərbaycandili‎(4) BahasaIndonesia‎(22) BahasaMelayu‎(2) Català‎(1) Dansk‎(1) Deutsch‎(36) Eesti‎(1) English‎(2467) Español‎(251) Français‎(40) Italiano‎(54) Latviešuvaloda‎(7) Lietuviųkalba‎(1) Magyar‎(2) Nederlands‎(19) Norsk‎(8) Polski‎(16) Português‎(59) Pусскийязык‎(29) Română‎(20) Shqip‎(1) Slovenčina‎(1) Slovenščina‎(1) Suomi‎(8) Svenska‎(8) TiếngViệt‎(24) Türkçe‎(133) Uyƣurqə,ئۇيغۇرچە‎‎(1) WikangTagalog‎(1) hrvatski‎(1) Íslenska‎(1) česky,čeština‎(9) Ελληνικά‎(19) българскиезик‎(7) српскијезик‎(1) українська‎(4) Հայերեն‎(1) עברית‎(2) العربية‎(583) فارسی‎(154) বাংলা‎(4) ქართული‎(7) 中文‎(1) 한국어‎(2) Morefilters  |  Sortorder Startyourreviewof牛津英文经典：查拉图斯特拉如是说（英文版）Writeareview Aug22,2007 GD ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition It'slikeJesus,butcooler. It'slikeJesus,butcooler. ...more flag 1300likes · Like  · seereview Viewall23comments May10,2008 Shawn ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: favorites Horrormoviesneverfrightenedmeinthesamewaycertainworksofliteratureandfilmdid.ReadingthroughZarathustraasateenagerwasasingularlypowerfulexperience;theworkdefiescategorizationorgenre,timeorplace.IwaswarnedthatNietzschewasdangerousforyoungreaders(likeMachiavelli)becausehewentinsane.ThisIHADtoread.Itwasmyfirstencounterwithexistentialthought,astingingcritiqueoftheverynatureofvaluesandbelief.Theeventsinthebookaremorelike Horrormoviesneverfrightenedmeinthesamewaycertainworksofliteratureandfilmdid.ReadingthroughZarathustraasateenagerwasasingularlypowerfulexperience;theworkdefiescategorizationorgenre,timeorplace.IwaswarnedthatNietzschewasdangerousforyoungreaders(likeMachiavelli)becausehewentinsane.ThisIHADtoread.Itwasmyfirstencounterwithexistentialthought,astingingcritiqueoftheverynatureofvaluesandbelief.TheeventsinthebookaremorelikeBiblicalparablesthanaplotunfolding,exceptthatthelessonisnot,"ThouShalt"but"WhyshouldI?"IwishIcouldreadGermanwellenoughtounderstandthenuancesofNietzsche'soriginalnarrative.Fullofsurrealvisions,Zarathustraisachallengetointerpretbutatthesametime,lacksthesemanticsofconventionalphilosophythatmakesthefieldinaccessibleformanyyoungstudents.Somanythingsareexplored,celebratedorindictedwithambitiousandsharpleapsofmetaphors:Moralrelativism,comparativetheologyandeternalrecurrence,nothingshortoftheloveoflife,thewilltolife.ManyfascinatingdiscussionshaveexploredwhatcouldhaveinfluencedNietzsche:thesocialmilieuoflate19thcenturyEurope,thecontradictionsofEnlightenmentthought,etc.ThusSpokeZarathustrawillforeverretainitsmysteryandisamonumenttoNietzsche'seccentricity. ...more flag 558likes · Like  · seereview Viewall23comments Oct12,2009 AhmadSharabiani ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 19th-century, non-fiction, philosophy, german, literature, classics AlsoSprachZarathustra:EinBuchfürAlleundKeinen=ThusSpokeZarathustra:ABookforEveryoneandNoOne=SoZarathustraSpoke.AbookforEveryoneandNoOne.InThreeParts,FriedrichNietzscheThebookconsistsoffourparts.Thefirstpartappearedin1883,thesecondandthirdin1884,thefourthin1885asaprivateprint.In1886Nietzschepublishedthefirstthreepartsas“SoZarathustraspoke.Abookforeveryoneandnoone.Inthreeparts.”IncontrasttoNietzsche'searlyworks AlsoSprachZarathustra:EinBuchfürAlleundKeinen=ThusSpokeZarathustra:ABookforEveryoneandNoOne=SoZarathustraSpoke.AbookforEveryoneandNoOne.InThreeParts,FriedrichNietzscheThebookconsistsoffourparts.Thefirstpartappearedin1883,thesecondandthirdin1884,thefourthin1885asaprivateprint.In1886Nietzschepublishedthefirstthreepartsas“SoZarathustraspoke.Abookforeveryoneandnoone.Inthreeparts.”IncontrasttoNietzsche'searlyworks,theZarathustraisnotanon-fictionbook.Inhymnprose,apersonalnarratorreportsontheworkofafictionalthinkerwhobearsthenameofthePersianfounderofreligion,Zarathustra.عنوانهایچاپشدهدرایران:«چنینگفتزرتشت-کتابیبرایهمهکسوهیچکس»؛«چنینگفتزرتشت»؛اثرکفردریشنیچه؛تاریخنخستینخوانشیکیازروزهایسال1971میلادیعنوان:چنینگفتزرتشت-کتابیبرایهمهکسوهیچکس؛اثرفردریشنیچه؛مترجمحمیدنیرنوری؛تهران،ابنسینا،چاپدوم1346؛در436ص؛چاپدیگرتهران،امیرکبیر،سیمرغ،چاپسوم1351؛چاپدیگر:تهران،اهورا،1384؛در597ص؛شابک9647316097؛چاپهایبعدیاهورا،1385؛1386؛1388؛1392؛موضوعفلسفهفیلسوفانآلمان-سده19معنوان:چنینگفتزرتشت-کتابیبرایهمهکسوهیچکس؛اثرفردریشنیچه؛مترجمداریوشآشوری؛اسماعیلخویی؛تهران،نیل،1349؛دریکجلد؛چاپدیگر1352در488ص؛چاپدیگرتهران،نگاه،1370،در542ص؛چاپهشتم1372؛چاپسیوپنجم1393؛عنوان:چنینگفتزرتشت؛مترجم:مسعودانصاری؛تهران،زرین،1379؛در607ص؛شابک9789644074004؛چاپدیگر؛تهران،جامی،سال1377؛در384ص،چاپدوم1379؛چاپسوم1380؛چاپپنجم1382؛چاپهفتم1385؛چاپهشتمونهم1386؛در378ص؛شابک9645620600؛چاپدهم1388؛دوازدهم1391؛سیزدهم1393؛مترجمهایدیگر:مهردادشاهین؛لحن«چنینگفتزرتشت»بهکتاب‌هایباستانیهمچون«انجیل»و«تورات»نزدیکاست،بسیاریآنرا«انجیلپنجم»نامداده‌اند؛اگرچهاثریفلسفیاست،امابهعنوانشاهکارادبینیزشناختهمی‌شود،اینکتابترکیبیازنثروشعرکهدرقالبگزینگویه،سرود‌هایپرتبوتاب(ارجاعبهیونانباستان)وهمچنینبخش‌هاییازاشعارخالص(شعریبدونپیامکهمربوطبهبررسیماهیتاصلیموسیقیزبان،نهبهمعنایرساندنروایتویاهدفآموزشی)استرمانپسازدهسالعزلت«زرتشت(پیامبرایران‌زمین)»آغازمی‌شود،اوازکنجعزلتوپسازسال‌هااندیشه،ازکوهسرازیرشدهوبهشهرمی‌آید؛هدفیداردومی‌خواهدبهبشریتپیامیبدهد،اوسهدگردیسیاز«شتر»به«شیر»وکودکرابازگومی‌کندومی‌گوید:«انسانفقطپلیمیانحیوانوابرانساناست.»حالکهخدامردهاست،ابرانسانکسیاستکهازتمامیپیشداوری‌هاواخلاقیاتجامعهانسانیآزادوارزشوهدفخودراآشکارسازد؛مردمانبهسخنان«زرتشت»واکنشنشاننمی‌دهند؛درپایاننخستینروزدرمیانمردمان،«زرتشت»ازناتوانیخودبرایرساندنپیامانقلابی‌خویشبهمردمدربازارناراحتاست؛اوتصمیممی‌گیردکهدیگردرتغییرگلهمردمسعیوتلاشنکند،بلکهبایدباافرادیکهمایلبهجداشدنازگلههستند،سخنبگوید؛بخشنخستازسهبخشکتاب«چنینگفتزرتشت»شاملآموزه‌هایفردیوخطبه‌های«زرتشت»هستندوبیشترموضوعاتکلیفلسفهی«فریدریشنیچه»راپوششمی‌دهند،گرچهبیشتردرقالببسیارنمادینومبهمبیانمی‌گردند،اومبارزهراارزشمی‌بخشد،زیرامسیربرایابرانساندشواراست،وبهقربانی‌هایبسیارنیازدارد؛رسیدنبهآنراهبیشتربهصورتنمادین،وبابالارفتنازکوهوروحآزادوباخنده‌هایشادکامانهورقصنمایانمی‌شود،«زرتشت»ازهمهگونهحرکت‌هایتوده‌ایبیزاراست؛«زرتشتپیامبر»،کسانیراکهبهاندازهکافیتوانمند(ازلحاظروحی)هستندرا،بهمبارزهمی‌طلبد،وازکسانیکهچناننیستند،دوریمی‌کند؛«فریدریشنیچه»بااندیشهیدرخشانخود،زندگیرابهچالشکشیده،وازنوبنامی‌کنند،هدفایشانساختنانسانینو،باارزش‌هاینویناست،تابتواندازپیلهیرکود،رخوتوتاریکی،بیرونآید،ورهسپاردریایخویشگردد،اوانسان‌هایمیان‌مایه،متافیزیکی،ثروتپرست،مذهبی،اخلاقمنش،فرهنگدوست،زنان،خانواده،وبسیاریزمینه‌هایدیگررابهجنگمی‌طلبد؛رزمافزارشتنهاقلمواندیشهاست،چهکسییارایبرابریبااوراداردنقلازمتن:(هنگامیکه«زرتشت»،شهرگاوخالدارراکهموردعلاقه‌اشبودراترکمی‌گفت،بسیاریکسانکهخودراپیرواناومی‌خواندندبهدنبالاوبهراهافتادهوبااوبودندتابهچهارراهیرسیدند،دراینجا«زرتشت»رویخودرابدان‌هانمودهوگفت:«اکنونمایلاستآنهاراترکگویدزیرااوازتنهاییلذتمی‌برد.»پیروانشدرهنگاممفارقتازاوعصاییبدوهدیهکردند،کهدستهایزرینداشتوماریرانشانمی‌دادکهبهدورخورشیدچنبرهزدهاست؛«زرتشت»ازآنهدیهبی‌اندازهشادشد،وبرآنتکیهکردوآنگاهرویبهاصحابخودنموده،وچنینگفت:آیامیدانیدچرازرازهرچیزدیگریپربهاتراست؟زیراکمیاباستودرخشندگیملایمومطبوعیدارد؛زرهموارهخودرامی‌بخشد؛تنهابهصورتتصویربزرگ‌ترینفضیلت‌هاستکهزر،بزرگ‌ترینارزش‌هارایافتهاست؛نظرشخصکریم،زریناست؛زردرخشانبینماوخورشیدصلحبرقرارمی‌کند؛بزرگ‌ترینفضیلت‌هاکمیابوبی‌منفعتاست،ودرخشندگیملایمومطبوعیدارد؛فضیلتبخشنده،بزرگ‌ترینفضیلت‌هاست؛بهراستیکهمنشماراشناخته‌ام؛شمانیزمانندمندرپیآنفضیلتیهستیدکهمی‌بخشد؛شماچهفصلیمشترکیباگربه‌هاوگرگ‌هادارید؟بهراستیکهچنینعشقبخشنده‌ایبایددزدهمهارزش‌هاشود،ولیچنینخودخواهیرامن،پاکومقدسمی‌شمارم؛فسادنامرییومرضدرایننوعاشتیاقنهفتهاست؛تمنایدزدانهاینخودپرستیدلالتبریکجسمبیماردارد؛ایبراداران،بگویید:آیافساد،بدترینچیزبرایمانیست؟درهرجاروحدهنده‌اینیست،بویفسادبهمشاممی‌رسد؛ماازبینانواعبهسویانواععالیترصعودمی‌کنیمولیمافکرفاسدیراکهمی‌گوید:«همهچیزبرایخودم»ازخودمی‌رانیم.)؛پایاننقلنقلدیگریازمتن:(ایانسان!هشدار!نیمشبژرفچهمیگوید؟خفتهبودم،خفتهبودم،ازخوابژرفبرخاستهام؛جهانژرفاست،ژرفترازآنکهروزگمانکردهاست؛رنجآنژرفاست،لذت،ژرفترازمحنت؛رنجمیگویدگمشو!اماهرلذتیجاودانگیمیخواهد،جاودانگیژرفژرفرا!ترجیعبندزرتشت)؛پایاننقلتاریخبهنگامرسانی29/07/1399هجریخورشیدی؛12/06/1400هجریخورشیدی؛ا.شربیانی ...more flag 218likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Aug17,2018 Catherine ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: translated-fiction, philosophy, classics ThebestwaythatIcandescribethisbookisasareligiousexperience,whichiskindofparadoxicalbecausethemainideaofthebookisthat“Godisdead.”WhenZarathustra,theancientPersianprophet,emergesfromhis10-yearsolitudeandexclaimsthatGodhasdied,hedoesn’tmeanthatliterally.Rather,hemeansthattheconceptofGodasagatewaytofindingmeaninginlifeisdeadandthatthemeaningoflifeshouldbefoundnotinreligiousworshipbutwithintheselfasanexemplarof ThebestwaythatIcandescribethisbookisasareligiousexperience,whichiskindofparadoxicalbecausethemainideaofthebookisthat“Godisdead.”WhenZarathustra,theancientPersianprophet,emergesfromhis10-yearsolitudeandexclaimsthatGodhasdied,hedoesn’tmeanthatliterally.Rather,hemeansthattheconceptofGodasagatewaytofindingmeaninginlifeisdeadandthatthemeaningoflifeshouldbefoundnotinreligiousworshipbutwithintheselfasanexemplaroftruehumanity–the‘Superman’.TheSupermanrepresentsthehigheststateofmaninwhichhecreateshisownvaluesandisthereforeapowerfulmasterofhimself.AccordingtoZarathustra,thisversionofmanhasyettoexist,buthespeaksofhowitcanbebredinfuturegenerations.ThebookfollowsZarathustranotonlyashepreachestohisdiscipleswaysinwhichtoreachtheSupermanstate,butalsohisjourneyinreachingithimself.ThemostinterestingpartofthiswasZarathustra’sdiscourseofthephasesofspiritualmetamorphosisrepresentedbythecamel,thelion,andthechild.Thefirststage,thecamel,representsthecarryingofburdensofhumanexistencethatarenecessaryforapersontoacceptinordertostrengthenthemforthenextphase—itistheweightbearingspiritthatpushesitselfbeyondeverylimitpossible.Uponbearingtheweightofexistenceandinessenceoutcastingthemselvesinthedesert,thecamelrealizesthatitwantsfreedomfromthetraditionalvirtuesithasknown;thisiswherethelionphasecomesintoplay.Atthispoint,thecamelhastwochoices.Itcaneithertakethepathofnihilism,orthepathofcreatingitsownvaluesandmeaninginlifenowthatishasrejectedtraditionalvaluesofreligion.InordertoreachtheSupermanstate,theindividualmustrejectnihilismandindoingso,thelionisrealized.Inthelastphase,thechild,thespirtistrulyfree.Thisoccurswhenthelionhaselectedtostartanewlifeasthemasterofhimself—thustheSupermanisattained.Ithoughtthatwholeanalogywassointeresting,anditservesasthebasisoftheentirestory.Althoughverydense,theallegoricalnatureiswhatreallydrewmein.IlikedthatthiswassomethingextremelydifferentfromanythingelseIhaveeverreadanditallowedmetoseecertainideasinanewlight,regardlessofwhetherornotIagreedwiththemall.IwoulddefinitelygiveotherNietzscheworksaread,butI'msureuntilthenIwillbeponderingaboutthisoneforaverylongtime. ...more flag 167likes · Like  · seereview Viewall15comments May22,2020 SeanBarrs ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: philosophy Thisissomanythingsatonce:itiswiseandintelligent;itisfunnyandperceptive;itiscreativeandplayful,butitisalsononsensicalandimpenetrable.Simplyput,IamnotquitesureifIamreadyforthisbook.Iconsidermyselfrelativelywell-read,butIdonotfeelwell-readenoughtotakethisoneon.TherearepartsthatIdonotunderstandorcannotinterpret.Ibecamelostinmuchofthewritingastheallusionswentovermyheadandmeantextraordinarilylittletome.Thisis Thisissomanythingsatonce:itiswiseandintelligent;itisfunnyandperceptive;itiscreativeandplayful,butitisalsononsensicalandimpenetrable.Simplyput,IamnotquitesureifIamreadyforthisbook.Iconsidermyselfrelativelywell-read,butIdonotfeelwell-readenoughtotakethisoneon.TherearepartsthatIdonotunderstandorcannotinterpret.Ibecamelostinmuchofthewritingastheallusionswentovermyheadandmeantextraordinarilylittletome.ThisishowIfeltthefirsttimeIreadUlysses.Ireaditmanyyearslaterandmanagedtotrudgethroughit.TheSatanicVersesalsohadasimilareffectonme.Allthreebooksleftmealittlebewildered.AndIdon'tthinkitisrighttocriticisesuchbooksonthisbasis.So,Iamputtingthisoneonholdforseveralyears.IwillreaditagainwhenIamalittleolderandmoreeducated.Fornow,though,itwassimplyokaybuttooprofoundformeatthispointinmylife.WewillspeakagainZarathustra,intime.__________________________________YoucanconnectwithmeonsocialmediaviaMyLinktree.__________________________________ ...more flag 118likes · Like  · seereview Viewall12comments Apr25,2013 Szplug ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Howyoulikingthemapples,Jede-fucking-diah?!ThusspokeBarnabyJones.Ireadthisbookbackaround2001or2002.Iwasn'tmuchconcernedwithwritingreviewsbackthen—andhowweirdisthat?—but,deemingNietzscheaprettysmartguy,Iscribbleddownabunchofnotesandquotes.SinceI'venotasinglereviewbyFriedrichN.atthisplace,Ithought,inlieuofanythingmoreinsightfulorintelligent,tocopythosenotesoutbelow,verbatim.Andafterhavingdoneso,I'mnotquitesurewhatI Howyoulikingthemapples,Jede-fucking-diah?!ThusspokeBarnabyJones.Ireadthisbookbackaround2001or2002.Iwasn'tmuchconcernedwithwritingreviewsbackthen—andhowweirdisthat?—but,deemingNietzscheaprettysmartguy,Iscribbleddownabunchofnotesandquotes.SinceI'venotasinglereviewbyFriedrichN.atthisplace,Ithought,inlieuofanythingmoreinsightfulorintelligent,tocopythosenotesoutbelow,verbatim.Andafterhavingdoneso,I'mnotquitesurewhatIhadhopedtoaccomplishwithsuchameagercollectionofpeanutshells.[Shrug].Butwhatareyougoingtodo?Perhapssomeone,somewhere,somehow,willfindsomethingin'emthatmakesZarathustramoreappealingthanitmightotherwisehavebeen,andthatwouldbejustbullyforme.*Noteswrittenonshit-brownpaperandawfullydamnhardtotranscribe,'causeI'masouthpawandIwritelikeIwasbeingseverelyandcruellyelectrocutedwhilstrunningaboutandshaking.TheOverman:Thatwhichmanmustbecomeinordertoovercomehimselfand/ornature.TheCreatorisalsoanannihilator—hemustbecrueltobreakoldvaluesandcreatenewones.TheLastManispromisedhappiness—butwhowillleadandwhowillobey?Everyoneisthesame,andthosewhoaredifferentaremad.TheLastManinventedhappiness.MancreatedGodinordertolookawayfromeverything.Godsufferstoo,andisthusimperfectlikehiscreators.Manhatedthebody,andsocreatedspirit.ManhatedtheEarth,andsocreatedHeaven.Doubtwassin.Knowledgeshunned.TheEgowillreclaimmanfortheEarth. Yousaytome"Lifeishardtobear."Butwhywouldyouhaveprideinthemorningandyourresignationintheevening?Lifeishardtobear;butdonotactsotenderly!Weareallofusfairbeastsofburden,maleandfemaleasses.Whatdowehaveincommonwiththerosebud,whichtremblesbecauseadropofdewliesonit?True,welovelife,notbecauseweareusedtolivingbutbecauseweareusedtoloving.Thereisalwayssomemadnessinlove.Butthereisalsoalwayssomereasoninmadness. WarriorsoftheMind:Thosewiththecouragetofightfortheirbeliefshavehelpedmankindfarmorethanpriestswhomeeklyaccepttheideasofothers. Youinviteawitnesswhenyouwanttospeakwellofyourselves;andwhenyouhaveseducedhimtothinkwellofyou,thenyouthinkwellofyourselves.Thusspeaksthefool:"Associationwithotherpeoplecorruptsone'scharacter—especiallyifonehasnone."Onemangoestohisneighborbecauseheseekshimself;anotherbecausehewouldlosehimself.Yourbadloveofyourselvesturnsyoursolitudeintoaprison.Itisthosefartherawaywhomustpayforyourloveofyourneighbor;andeveniffiveofyouaretogether,thereisalwaysasixthwhomustdie. Usingotherpeopleasaproptomakethemfeelvirtuous.Groupsofvirtuouspeoplefeelingverygoodcandogreateviltostrangerswhomtheyshouldlovetoo.Thosewhotrulylovearecreators—andthusannihilatorsandgiversandesteemers.Donotletvirtues,goodandevil,limityourfulfillmentasacreator.RemainoftheEarthanddonotgetlostintheheavensseekingawayfromyourselfandthebody. Verily,Ihaveoftenlaughedattheweaklingswhothoughtthemselvesgoodbecausetheyhadnoclaws. NietzschesaysGodisdeadbutheconstantlyreferstoangelsandmagiccreatures:ishecreatinganewreligionoftheOverman?Ofbecoming?Nietzsche'sZarathustrahasdoubtsaboutthefuture—heisworriedaboutlearningforlearning'ssake;educationimpartingaloveofcollectingotherpeople'screations. Atbottom,thesesimpletonswantasinglethingmostofall:thatnobodyshouldhurtthem.Thustheytrytopleaseandgratifyeverybody.This,however,iscowardice,evenifitbecalledvirtue...Virtuetothemisthatwhichmakesmodestandtame:withthattheyhaveturnedthewolfintoadogandmanhimselfintoman'sdomesticanimal."Wehaveplacedourchairinthemiddle,"yoursmirkingsaystome;"andexactlyasfarfromdyingfightersasfromamusedsows."That,however,ismediocrity,thoughitbecalledmoderation. Nietzschealsofrequentlymentionshisnausea,whichchokeshimlikeasnake.It'salwaystheejectionofthatwhichsustainslifebroughtaboutbylife'sownunsettlingessenceandenergies.Smallvirtues:Donotbemoreconcernedwithmoralsthanwithbeingmen.Perfectsafetyandhappinessmakesforsmallmindsandpettypursuits.TheoldgodslaughedthemselvestodeathwhentheGrimbeardGodproclaimedonegodonly.LaughterandprankishnessareveryimportanttoNietzsche—itkeepshimfromactingoutofrevenge.Thecreatorisnotboundbythelimitsimposedbyothers.Theirevilissosmall:fromsmallmenwithsmallvirtues.ThegreatenemyofmanistheSpiritofGravity,whichfrombirthholdsmendownwithGoodandEvilandVirtues.Manmustsoarhisownway,makinghisownvalues.Thereisnocorrectonewayorpathforallmen:thatthisissoisoneofGravity'slies.TheSpiritofGravityistheolddevil,andZarathustra'senemy,forhebringsconstraint–statute–necessity–consequence,purposeandwill,goodandevil.Goodmenneverspeakthetruth.Theygivein—thosewhoheedcommandsdonotheedthemselves.Thewarringofdespotsandofdemocracy.Thedespotwilldistortthepasttomakeitleadtohim.Therabblewithdrownthepastinshallowwaters:forgetthepastafterapairofgenerations.TheGoodandtheJustmustbepharisees.Thegoodarealwaysthebeginningoftheend.Theywanttocrucifyallcreators;tothebreakersoftablets,theGoodsacrificethefutureforthemselves.Zarathustracontinuestobeassailedbyepisodesofchokingonthesnakeofnausea.Allmen,eventhecreator,mustfighttheirnauseaoftheworld. Formanisthecruelestanimal.Attragedies,bullfightsandcrucifixionshehassofarfeltbestonearth;andwhenheinventedhellforhimself,behold,thatwashisheavenonearth.Manisthecruelestanimalagainsthimself;andwheneverhecallshimself'sinner'and'cross-bearer'and'penitent',donotfailtohearthevoluptuousdelightthatisinallsuchlamentationandaccusation. Zarathustra,throughloveofnature,hasacceptedhisloveofeternityandtheeternalre-occurrence.NowinPartIV,ashehasovercomehisnauseaoftheeternalre-occurrence,hefaceshisfinaltrial:pity.Allgreatloversaregreatdespisers.Allcreatorsarehard,allgreatloveisoverandbeyondpity.Allgreatsuccesshasgonetothewell-persecuted.Allthosewhopersecutewelllearnreadilyhowtofollow.Thesmallmenaskonly:Howismantobepreservedbest,longestandmostagreeably?Theyareconcernedsolelywithsmallvirtues.TheOvermanwantsnottopreserveman,buttoovercomeman.Nietzscheconstantlystressestheneedforlaughterandtolaughatoneself:todanceonlightfeet.ThearchenemyisalwaystheSpiritofGravity.Thegreaterthecreator,thegreatertheevil.Butwashoffthestainafteryouhavecreated.Birthisneverpleasant. Whosoeverwouldkillmostthoroughly,laughs—notbywrathdoesonekill,butbylaughter. ...more flag 102likes · Like  · seereview Viewall7comments Feb04,2011 RikuSayuj ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: philosophy, direct-phil, r-r-rs VerilyhaveIovershotmyselfinmyvanityintothinkingthatIwasreadytoattemptthisbook.HumbledamInow.Iprobablygotlessthanone-thirdofwhatNietzschewasfulminatingon.Maybeinanothertworeadingorso...maybewithadifferenttranslation...?Cananyonewhohasreadthishelpmeout?Isthesecondhalfofthebookjustplainabstruseorwasitjustme? flag 90likes · Like  · seereview Viewall26comments Dec20,2018 RossBlocher ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition ThusSpokeZarathustraisamessy,self-seriousheapofobscurereferencesandungraciousphilosophywrappedinamountainofbadallegory.Andyet,therearemomentsofbrilliancehiddeninthemiddenpileofNietzsche'simpenetrablepoetryandprosethatalmostmakeitworththeeffort.ThismaybethelongestshortbookI'veeverread.Granted,theoriginalwasinGerman,andIreadanEnglishtranslation.Apparentlyitwasalreadyarcaneandrepletewithwordplayandpersonalreferencesini ThusSpokeZarathustraisamessy,self-seriousheapofobscurereferencesandungraciousphilosophywrappedinamountainofbadallegory.Andyet,therearemomentsofbrilliancehiddeninthemiddenpileofNietzsche'simpenetrablepoetryandprosethatalmostmakeitworththeeffort.ThismaybethelongestshortbookI'veeverread.Granted,theoriginalwasinGerman,andIreadanEnglishtranslation.Apparentlyitwasalreadyarcaneandrepletewithwordplayandpersonalreferencesinitsoriginalform.TherewereafewmomentswhenIencounterednew,interestingwordsandconsultedthedictionary,onlytodiscoveritwasnotanactualword.I'msurethetranslatorsweredoingthebesttheycould.Alsogranted,thiswaspublishedin1883,andIcamealongagood100yearslater.Youcanonlyblameabooksomuchforbeingaproductofitstime,though.Idon'tseemuchofvaluehereforamodernaudience.Themainmessageofthebookistopreparethewayforthesuperman."Übermensch"intheoriginal,thetermhasbeentranslatedas"Overman"andavarietyofsimilarcoinages(allwithmeninmind;we'lltalkaboutthemisogynyinaminute).Theideaisthatmankindisonlyatransitionalform,buildingtowardahigher,betterrace.Alleffortsshouldbemadetohastenhisarrivalandtostopmollycoddlingweak,needydegenerates.Whatwillthissupermanaccomplish?Whatmakeshimsosuper?WhyishiscomingsoimportantthatalltheuglyandinferiordenizensofEarthmustneedsbeeradicated?Thesequestionsareneverraised,letaloneanswered.Zarathustra(akaZoroaster,theancientfounderofZoroastrianism)waschosenastheprotagonistforacloudofreasons:hisnamesoundscool,he'sPersian(Nietzscheconsideredthemearlyindividualists),andhewasallabouttruth.Nietzschehashimwalkupanddownmountainstotalktothepeoplehemeetsandshout(heisalwaysshoutingorexclaiming-therearemanyexclamationmarks)hisphilosophy.Alongthewayheencountersvariousrealandallegoricalanimals(allofwhomrepresentsomeoneimportantinNietzsche'slifeorsomegroupofpeople)aswellasasmallcastofotherhumans.Attimeshedisappearsforawhile.Othertimeshegetsreallyworkedup.EventuallyZarathustragatherssome"highermen"inhiscaveandtalkstothemthere.That'stheextentofthisskeletalplot,andit'sevenmoreboringandthreadbarethanthatsounds.ThestructureremindedmealotofKahlilGibran'sTheProphet,untilIlookedthemupandsawthatGibranwasahugefanofNietzsche's.Gofigure.Therearelong,longpassagesdevoidofcontent.Screedandmumbojumbo,really.Afewexamples:Lifeisawellofdelight;butwheretherabblealsodrink,thereallfountainsarepoisoned.ToeverythingcleanlyamIwelldisposed;butIhatetoseethegrinningmouthsandthethirstoftheunclean.Verily,Ihaveoftenlaughedattheweaklings,whothinkthemselvesgoodbecausetheyhavecrippledpaws!Thestupidityofthegoodisunfathomablywise.Omysoul,Ihavegiventheenewnamesandgay-colouredplaythings,Ihavecalledthee"Fate"and"theCircuitofcircuits"and"theNavel-stringoftime"and"theAzurebell."Letyourlovetolifebelovetoyourhighesthope;andletyourhighesthopebethehighestthoughtoflife!Dothoselasttwoevenmeananything?Idon'tknow.Itriedreadingthemfourtimesandthenjusthadtomoveon.There'salotofthat.Oh,andImentionedmisogyny!Asyetwomanisnotcapableoffriendship:womenarestillcats,andbirds.Oratthebest,cows.Everythinginwomanisariddle,andeverythinginwomanhathonesolution-itispregnancy.Thehappinessofmanis,"Iwill."Thehappinessofwomanis,"Hewill."Surface,iswoman'ssoul,amobile,stormyfilmonshallowwater.Man'ssoul,however,isdeep,itscurrentgushethinsubterraneancaverns:womansurmisethitsforce,butcomprehendethitnot.Thesearen'tjustselectivequotesoutofcontext-thisispervasive.Nietzscheevenhasacharacterexclaim,"Strange!Zarathustraknowethlittleaboutwoman,andyetheisrightaboutthem!"Eyeroll.Therearemixedmessages,andyouneverknowwhenZarathustraissupposedtobetakenseriously.Nietzscheseemstohavenoconceptofwhatmakessomepeoplegreatandothersnot,andisoblivioustotherolesofcircumstanceandenvironment.Somehow,tohim,somepeoplearejustinherentlylesser,andhisdisgustisapparent.Asthoughheweresuchamodelhumanbeinghimself:Nietzschewasfrequentlysick,outofwork,unabletowrite,andsufferingfromdementia.Hehasaweird,limitedunderstandingofevolution,andborrowsfromreligionfrequently.NietzscheproclaimsGoddeadandthechurchcorrupt,butalsomakesadisplayofhisreligiousinculcationinhislanguageandpoetry.SpakeZarathustra:"Mandothnotlivebybreadalone","dothisinremembranceofme",andthepsalmicpunctuation"Selah".IhadavoidedNietzscheforyears,largelybecauseI'dencounteredhimasthetargetofChristianapologistarguments(alongwithFreud),andIdidn'twanthimtobepartofmyownatheism.Afterthis,Istilldon't.FansofhisassuremethatI'ddobettertoreadoneofhislessobscurantistworks,suchasTheAntichrist.MaybeIwill.Thebestthatcanbegleanedhereisencouragementtosoaraboveandbethebestpersonyoucanbe,butIhopeyoudon'tdothatattheexpenseofothers.Icanseewhythisbooksooftenappealstoyoungmen.Thereareindeedsomedeepinsightsandbeautifulphrasingstobehadhere,buttheyarevirtuallylostinaseaofboringandspitefulblather. ...more flag 77likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Feb25,2012 Aubrey ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 5-star, r-2014, translated, german, think-think-think, 1-read-on-hand, non-fiction, r-goodreads, reviewed Ihaveatalltimeswrittenmywritingswithmywholeheartandsoul:Idonotknowwhatpurelyintellectualproblemsare. ThereisagreatdealofNietzschethatIagreewith,andhoardswithwhichIvehementlydonot.I'vebeenaccumulatingquotesofhisforfiveyearsnow,quoteswhoseinherentlackofcontextmademelikehimmorethanIdonow.IstilllovemanyofhisphrasesasmuchasIdidbefore,butifweevermet,wewouldnotlikeeachotheratall.Despitethatmuddle,Iamgrate Ihaveatalltimeswrittenmywritingswithmywholeheartandsoul:Idonotknowwhatpurelyintellectualproblemsare. ThereisagreatdealofNietzschethatIagreewith,andhoardswithwhichIvehementlydonot.I'vebeenaccumulatingquotesofhisforfiveyearsnow,quoteswhoseinherentlackofcontextmademelikehimmorethanIdonow.IstilllovemanyofhisphrasesasmuchasIdidbefore,butifweevermet,wewouldnotlikeeachotheratall.Despitethatmuddle,IamgratefulthatIcameacrosshiswordswhileIwasyoungerandinthefullthroesofdepression,cynicism,andafrighteninglyhomicidalbrandofsolipsism.Ididn'tknowthedefinitionofthatlastwordbackthen,butIwasindesperateneedofsomethingbothhorriblydismalandblindinglybright,ajoythatdidnotrequireavoidanceofdespairbutlookeditfullintheface.TheoftencontextualizedandparaphrasedNietzschewithatheism,nihilism,andyetfierceandgloriousfervorforthefutureseemedperfectbackthen.Tosomeextent,he'sstillperfect,butonlyinbitsandpieces.Thecallforsolitudeandindividualismisasrefreshingasever,theatheismisstillinlinewithmysensibilities,andthebreathtakingvaultsandshudderingdescentscarriedmyheartalongwiththem.However.WhileIdidindeedrunacrosshiscryfortheSuperman,evengoingsofarastotaketohearthis'Manissomethingthatshallbeovercome,'IpaidasmuchmindtohisSupermanasconcernedmyyoungerself'sviewoftheworldandthepeopleinitasutterlyworthless.NotuntilthisreadingdidIfullyrealizeNietzsche'smeaning;beingasinterestedinsocialjusticeand,well,femaleasIam,therewaslittlechanceofmepassingupallthatelitism(andclassism?)andcondemnationofempathyandrapierdashesofvirulentmisogyny.It'sstrange,though.PerhapsitisasignofjusthowmuchtimeIspentmooningafterNietzsche,backwhenItookhiminsmalldoses,butIamespeciallyconsciousofthetimeperiodinwhichhewrotethis.Hisdecryingofthe"mob"echoesmyownviewsregardingoppressiveideologies,andIhavetowonderhowmuchofhisrampantcondemnationofpopularmentalityfelluponthepeopleratherthantheideastheylivedby.Asforhisabysmalportrayalofwomen,whoknowswhatahealthydoseoffeminismandexposuretosuchawesomethinkersasSimonedeBeauvoir,HannahArendt,andsomanyotherswouldhaveaccomplished.Probablygottenridofhis'creator'spregnancy'conceit(ifyou'regoingtoslander,Nietzsche,backofffromtheridiculouslydisproportionateappropriationplease),ifnothingelse.Also,thereisthematterofhisoneseriousattemptatheterosexuallovehavingbeenrejectedrightaroundthetimeofcompositionofthispiece.Itdoesn'texcusehimatall,butitdoesexplainhisvitriolsome.Allofthataboveiswishfulthinking,ofcourse,butseeingasthisistheenigmaticrhapsodizeronthesubjectofwishfulthinking,it'smorethanmerited.ForallofNietzsche'saggravatinginegalitarianism,hecapturedtherapidfireoscillationbetweentopoftheworldanddescentintohellsoperfectly,soutterly,andthencraftedwithitaraisond'êtrebothdeathlyseriousandblissfullyrapturous.There'snosmallamountofnihilisminhisdismissalofeverythingsolid,everyonestationary,everythingdecrepitandoutdatedandfinallyafterlonglastprovedfalse,butthere'saspitfirelifetoitthatlaughsatself-servingpanderingandloveschaoticprogressthatImyselfcannotforbearfromadoringandmakingmyown. 'This-isnowmyway:whereisyours?'ThusIansweredthosewhoaskedme'theway'.Fortheway-doesnotexist! Ishallkeepthisinmind,Nietzsche,ifnothingelse.NotallofwhatyourZarathustraspokeringstruetome,butyouareoneofthefewwhofavoredfreedomoveradvice.Forthat,Iaminyourdebt. Iamoftodayandofthehas-been(hesaidthen);butthereissomethinginmethatisoftomorrowandoftheday-after-tomorrowandoftheshall-be. P.S.Thisparticulareditionwasgreat.Ihavenoclueaboutthequalityofthetranslation,buttheintroductionandendnotes,endnotesthatincludedallthoseuntranslateablebitswithasmuchexplanationaspossible,wereindispensable. ...more flag 73likes · Like  · seereview Viewall17comments Dec16,2010 Miquixote ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: philosophy, religion, poetry, 100-gs, german, non-fiction, 84-gr, psychology, 91-gb, 93-tr Incrediblyinterestingideas.Forsureyouwillbethinkingaboutwhatissaidhereforalong,longtime.ThismostfamousbookofNietzschedelvesintothecentralidea:the"eternalrecurrenceofthesame",alsotheparableonthe"deathofGod",andthe"prophecy"oftheÜbermensch.Nietzschehimselfclaimsitis"thedeepestbookeverwritten".(hewasn’tonepronetohumility…)Afictionalizedprophetdescendsfromhisreclusetomankind,Zarathustra,andturnstraditionalmoralityonits Incrediblyinterestingideas.Forsureyouwillbethinkingaboutwhatissaidhereforalong,longtime.ThismostfamousbookofNietzschedelvesintothecentralidea:the"eternalrecurrenceofthesame",alsotheparableonthe"deathofGod",andthe"prophecy"oftheÜbermensch.Nietzschehimselfclaimsitis"thedeepestbookeverwritten".(hewasn’tonepronetohumility…)Afictionalizedprophetdescendsfromhisreclusetomankind,Zarathustra,andturnstraditionalmoralityonitshead.Zarathustrawasthefirstmoralist(andnowfictionallythefirstanti-moralist).Thisisintendedasanirony,NietzschemimicsthestyleoftheBibleandindeedhasideaswhichfundamentallyopposeChristianandJewishmoralityandtradition.ManycriticismsofChristianitycanbefoundinThusSpokeZarathustra,inparticularChristianvaluesofgoodandevilanditsbeliefinanafterlife.NietzscheseesthecomplacencyofChristianvaluesasfetterstotheachievementofovermanaswellasonthehumanspirit.ToNietzschetruthfulnessisthehighestvirtue;theself-ovecomingofthehighestmorality,theoppositeofthecowardiceofthe"idealist”whofleesfromreality.AccordingtoNietzsche,thewilltopoweristhefundamentalcomponentofhumannature.Everythingwedoisanexpressionofthewilltopower.Thewilltopowerisapsychologicalanalysisofallhumanactionandisaccentuatedbyself-overcomingandself-enhancement(pleasenoteemphasisonself).Contrastedwithlivingforprocreation,pleasure,orhappiness,thewilltopoweristhesummaryofallman'sstruggleagainsthissurroundingenvironmentaswellashisreasonforlivinginit.Facedwiththeknowledgethathewouldrepeateveryactionthathehastaken(theeternalrecurrence),anormalmanwouldbemovedtodepression.Anovermanhoweverwouldbeelatedashehasnoregretsandloveslife.Tomanyitsoundslikeevolutionarytheory.AndlikeDarwinismhisphilosophywasinterpretedbymanyintoaformofSocialDarwinismandexterminationofraces.ItisstillupfordebatewhetherhereallywasaSocialDarwinist.Althoughtheword‘Uberman’(overman,superman)hasbeenthoughttohaveconnotationsofracialsuperiority,especiallybytheNazis,thereisnoevidenceinThusSpakeZarathustrathatNietzscheintendedittomeananythingotherthanageneric"higherbeing".(however,youmayfindsentencesabout‘inferiorandsuperiorraces’inhispreviousworkTheGayScience…whetherhemeantraceliterallyisunclear,andproblematictranslationsmayfurthercomplicatetheinterpretations.)AvulnerabilityofNietzsche'sstyleisthathisnuancesandshadesofmeaningareveryeasilylost—andalltooeasilygained—intranslation.Thereisanambiguityandparadoxicalnature,whichhashelpeditseventualenthusiasticreceptionbythereadingpublic,buthasfrustratedacademicattemptsatanalysis(asNietzschemayhaveintended).ThusSpakeZarathrustrawashoweverclearlyintendedtobetakenasanalternativetorepressivemoralcodesandanaversionto"nihilism"inallofitsvariedforms.Twothingsthatcanandshouldalsobetakenpositively.Therearecertainlymoralissuestotakeupagainstthemanthough(asheintended).Mostcontroversiallyandtothepointthatmattersmostformany,wouldhehavecondonedthemassexterminationofJewstakenuponbyNazis?Idon’tthinkso,butonlybecausehewastoointelligent,andthereisnoevidencethereissuchathingasaliterally‘inferiorrace’.Hewouldhowevercondonelethalactionsin‘thewilltopower’(hequiteexplicitlystatessointheGayScience)andhedidnothaveapositiveviewofparticipatorydemocracy(becausehewouldn’tagreeso-calledlesser-developedmen,theoneshewouldprobablydefineaslackingthe‘gayknowledge’,shouldbegivenequalpower).Notpasseatall,hisideasarealiveandwelltoday,buthisimmoralapproachshouldbeconsideredextremelyproblematic.Ifanimportantchallengetorepressivemoralcodesitshouldalsobefirmlyacknowledgedastooabsolutistandall-encompassingofachallengetoallmorals.ForthosewhodoubtNietzsche’sinfluence,andarestillunclearwhatherepresents,heisfundamentaltoawidevarietyofideas.Somearehighlyquestionableashelpfulagainstnihilism(suchasanarco-individualism/anarcho-capitalismandpost-modernism).Andsomeyoumayormaynotfindhelpful(suchasatheism).Ifstillindoubt,hereisashortlistofthosehehasprofoundlyinfluenced:Adorno,Bataille,Baudrillard,Benjamin,Bloom,Allan,Buber,Butler,Camus,Deleuze,Derrida,Dreyfus,Foucault,Freud,Heidegger,Iqbal,Jaspers,Jung,Kafka,Kaufmann,Kojeve,Lovecraft,Marcuse,Mencken,Molyneux,Onfray,Robakidze,Rogers,Santayana,Sartre,Strauss,Spengler,Williams,Wittgenstein,Zapffe ...more flag 52likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Nov18,2008 KyleWright ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Recommendsitfor: Nobody Zarathustra,thecharacterthroughwhichNietzschevicariouslyspewsforthhisworld-view,isapompous,narcissistic,egomaniacthatissoobsessedwithhowrightheis,hecan'tseejusthowterriblywrongheendsupbeing.Nietzscheconstantlycontradictshimself,usespoorlogicandreasoning,andpushesforasocialorderthatbenefitsonlytheelite.I'mappalledofNietzsche'sideathatthegreatmenoftheworldshouldwalkalloverthelittle,regularpeopletoachievetheirgreatness. Zarathustra,thecharacterthroughwhichNietzschevicariouslyspewsforthhisworld-view,isapompous,narcissistic,egomaniacthatissoobsessedwithhowrightheis,hecan'tseejusthowterriblywrongheendsupbeing.Nietzscheconstantlycontradictshimself,usespoorlogicandreasoning,andpushesforasocialorderthatbenefitsonlytheelite.I'mappalledofNietzsche'sideathatthegreatmenoftheworldshouldwalkalloverthelittle,regularpeopletoachievetheirgreatness.Hesaysthattheexistenceofthegeneralpopulationisjustifiedonlybythefactthattheremaycomeoutofthemagreaterrace(Hitlerwasabigfanofthisviewaswell).Hesaysthatmoralityandethicsarenotreal,butmerelytoolstomanipulatemassesandholdbacktheelite.Thisguymusthavebeeninsane!(Turnsouthewas,beingcommittedtoamentalinstitutiononlyyearsafterfinishingthiswork).IbelieveGeorgeBernardShawputitbest,whenhesaidthefollowingaboutthisbook:"Nietzscheisworsethanshocking,heissimplyawful...Nietzscheisthechampionofprivilege,ofpower,andofinequality.Neverwasthereadeafer,blinder,sociallyandpoliticallyinepteracademician..."ThisisoneoftheworstbooksI'veeverread.ThetalemeandersallovertheplaceasZarathustraejaculatesridiculousphilosophyforpageafterpage,hisfollowersfawningafterhimwithnaryasingularthoughtoftheirown.BoththeyandZarathustraareinaweofZarathustra'sownwisdomandinsight,andNietzscheneverletsapagegobywithoutremindingusofhisgrandiosestatus.IfanybodyinthestorytriestocontradictZarathustra,hemerelylaughsathowstupidthepersonisandridiculesthem.Thisbookis,inanutshell,justaguytryingtomakehimselflookallpowerful,knowing,andimportantwhilemakingeveryoneelselookbad.IgivethisbookanepicFAIL! ...more flag 46likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Dec07,2018 RamAlsrougi ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Great,almostpracticalapplication,thatit'salmostpossibletoapplyitevenintoday'ssociety.Nietzsche'scourage,creativity,andpassioninthisworkmakehimenchant.However,whilereading;Ihadtorepeatmanychapterstwicebecauseofhiskindofstrangeandbluntlanguage!. Great,almostpracticalapplication,thatit'salmostpossibletoapplyitevenintoday'ssociety.Nietzsche'scourage,creativity,andpassioninthisworkmakehimenchant.However,whilereading;Ihadtorepeatmanychapterstwicebecauseofhiskindofstrangeandbluntlanguage!. ...more flag 45likes · Like  · seereview Jun22,2021 P.E. ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: reenchanter-le-monde, audiobook, poetry, german-language-literature, ideology, malle-de-voyage, absurd, morals All"Itwas"isafragment,ariddle,afearfulchance-untilthecreatingWillsaysthereto:"ButthuswouldIhaveit." Zarathustra-NicholasRoerich(1931) Thisimmensepoetical/didacticworklookstomeastheaddingupofmaximsandvaluesalreadyextolledinBeyondGoodandEvilandOntheGenealogyofMorals:self-reliance,affirmationofpersonalwillandvalues,thesurpassingoftheself.ThestoryofZarathustra,theseekerofhispersonaltruthmakesthisworkmorealluringandi All"Itwas"isafragment,ariddle,afearfulchance-untilthecreatingWillsaysthereto:"ButthuswouldIhaveit." Zarathustra-NicholasRoerich(1931) Thisimmensepoetical/didacticworklookstomeastheaddingupofmaximsandvaluesalreadyextolledinBeyondGoodandEvilandOntheGenealogyofMorals:self-reliance,affirmationofpersonalwillandvalues,thesurpassingoftheself.ThestoryofZarathustra,theseekerofhispersonaltruthmakesthisworkmorealluringandintheendmorefleshedoutandconvincingtomethantheprevioustwo,sheercollectionsofaphorismsandthoughts.Hereagain,Icatchmyselffurtherentrenchingthatpersonalprejudiceaboutphilosophy,namelythatnovelsorstoriesatlargeofferthemostlively,themostunconstrained,easy-flowingandatthesametimethemostfleshed-outway,inshortthebestway,toconveyanactualmodicumofyourphilosophicalnotionstothereader,ashefollowsthesubjectivityinmotionofthecharacters,frominceptiontotheembodimentofthevaluestheythemselvesassertasthestoryprogresses.Ihavehadactual,keenpleasurefollowingZarathustra'stravels,theconversationsandtrials,andfoundmyselfsympathizingforthecharactersandthespiritinhabitatingthem,evensmilingatsomeoftheirwitticisms,theirwilfulnessandwaywardness!InparticularduringthefeastatZarathustra'scave,whichI'vehadnodifficultyimaginingasasceneinAliceinWonderlandortheclimaxofamangaseriesorsomethingalongtheselines:DCurious,isn'tit!AndI'mnoteventhatmuchofamangareader!Thereissomethingsoexuberant,vibrant,cheerfulandfatefulatthesametimeintheselastscenesthatIhavecameasfarastofeelamongtheirverycompany,intheflesh,andI'vehadafantastictimewiththeKingontheLeftandtheKingontheRight,Zarathustra'sShadow,theSoothsayer,theVoluntaryBeggar,theMagician,theAss,theLeechscholar,theUgliestManandtheOldPope'outofservice'...:)Lo!I'veevenfoundanillustrationofthismemorablescene;)Abunchofquotes: 'Itellyou:onemuststillhavechaosinone,togivebirthtoadancingstar.'------'Butallisalike,nothingisworthwhile,noseekingisofservice,therearenolongeranyBlessedisles!"[...]Thussighedthesoothsayer;[...]"No!No!ThreetimesNo!"exclaimed[Zarathustra]withastrongvoice,andstrokedhisbeard-"thatdoIknowbetter!TherearestillBlessedisles!Silencethen,yousighingsorrow-sack!'------'Inthatyouhavedespised,youhighermen,thatmakesmehope.Forthegreatdespisersarethegreatreverers.Inthatyouhavedespaired,thereismuchtohonor.Foryouhavenotlearnedtosubmityourselves,youhavenotlearnedpettypolicy.Forto-dayhavethepettypeoplebecomemaster:theyallpreachsubmissionandhumilityandpolicyanddiligenceandconsiderationandthelongetceteraofpettyvirtues.'------'Whatisthegreatestthingyoucanexperience?Itisthehourofyourgreatestcontempt.Thehourinwhichevenyourhappinessbecomesloathsometoyou,andsoalsoyourreasonandvirtue.'------'Andevenifonehaveallthevirtues,thereisstillonethingneedful:tosendthevirtuesthemselvestosleepattherighttime.'------'Youshalllovebeyondyourselvessomeday!Sofirst,learntolove.Andforthatyouhavetodrinkthebittercupofyourlove.'------'Buttheworstenemythoucanstmeet,wiltthouthyselfalwaysbe;thouwaylayeththyselfincavernsandforests.[...]Ahereticwiltthoubetothyself,andawizardandasoothsayer,andafool,andadoubter,andareprobate,andavillain.Readymustthoubetoburnthyselfinthineownflame;howcouldstthoubecomenewifthouhavenotfirstbecomeashes!' Alsoread:SiddhartaTheManuscriptFoundinSaragossaFreedomfromtheKnownDieuetl'EtatDependanceConan1-LeCimmérienIntotheWildMemoiresDuLargeAnillustrationofNietzscheantragedyandlifeaffirmationthroughtheeternaljoyinbecoming:Berkerk,byKentarōMiura------Behold,whilelookingforanillustrationofthe'LastSupper',Ihathstumbledon...this!Ihadstrongdoubtssomethingakintothisdidn'texistalreadytobefrank,haha!Music:LaFemmed'Argent-Air ...more flag 47likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Aug28,2019 SidharthVardhan ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: philosphy, 4-europe Getalife,Nietzsche flag 44likes · Like  · seereview Jun06,2011 Katy ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Pleasenote:Readin2007fromanon-lineeditionforpersonalresearchandedification.Reactionstoitaremyown.AnnotatedSynopsis:DescribedbyNietzschehimselfas"thedeepesteverwritten",thebookisadenseandesoterictreatiseonphilosophyandmorality,featuringasprotagonistafictionalizedZarathustra.AcentralironyofthetextisthatNietzschemimicsthestyleoftheBibleinordertopresentideaswhichfundamentallyopposeChristianandJewishmoralityandtradition.Theo Pleasenote:Readin2007fromanon-lineeditionforpersonalresearchandedification.Reactionstoitaremyown.AnnotatedSynopsis:DescribedbyNietzschehimselfas"thedeepesteverwritten",thebookisadenseandesoterictreatiseonphilosophyandmorality,featuringasprotagonistafictionalizedZarathustra.AcentralironyofthetextisthatNietzschemimicsthestyleoftheBibleinordertopresentideaswhichfundamentallyopposeChristianandJewishmoralityandtradition.Theoriginaltextcontainsagreatdealofword-play.Anexampleofthisexistsintheuseofthewords"over"or"super"andthewords"down"or"abyss/abysmal";someexamplesinclude"superman"or"overman","overgoing","downgoing"and"self-overcoming".MyThoughts:NietzscheespousesadesiretocreateSupermen,whowillbesuperiortomodernhumans.Hevilifiespity,charity,andsympathyasbeingweak,andglorifiesthewarriorandthosewhowouldbecrueltocreatestrengthinthemselvesandothers("crueltobekind"Isupposeyoucouldsay).HischaracterZarathustraspeaksinastilted,medievalwaywhich,Isuppose,issupposedtocalltomindbiblicalpassages.WhileIaccepttheimportanceofthisworkasphilosophyandclassicliterature,Ihavetomarkitas2starsbecauseIfeltthiswas,toagreatextent,thephilosophyespousedbyNaziGermany-atanyrate,IcouldseewherethisformedpartofthebackboneoftheirsocietyasdevelopedandenforcedbyHitlerandhisparty.Ididnotreallyenjoyreadingit,althoughIfeelitisimportanttoreadasmanyandasvariedworksaspossibleinorderthatImightlearnsomethingnewallthetime.Readitasaclassicalwork,andasaphilosophicalmasterpiece,butifyouaretroubledbythehistoryoftheNazisand/orFascism,youwilllikelyfindtheidealsespousedinthistexttobeuncomfortable. ...more flag 39likes · Like  · seereview Viewall20comments Sep24,2009 ChrisShank ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Thisisoneofmytop3favoritebooksofalltime.It’sastory,it’sasermon,it’spoetry,it’sphilosophy.Itseemsheavyreadingatfirst,butitgrowsprogressivelyeasieronceyougetusedtohislanguageandideas.Zarathustra’sstyleisBiblical,almostlikeoneoftheOldTestamentprophetslamentingsociety’sturningawayfromthetruth,andhepreachesandraveslikeaprophettoo.Hismessageisabitdifferent,enjoininghislistenerstoturnawayfromatraditionalnotionofGoda Thisisoneofmytop3favoritebooksofalltime.It’sastory,it’sasermon,it’spoetry,it’sphilosophy.Itseemsheavyreadingatfirst,butitgrowsprogressivelyeasieronceyougetusedtohislanguageandideas.Zarathustra’sstyleisBiblical,almostlikeoneoftheOldTestamentprophetslamentingsociety’sturningawayfromthetruth,andhepreachesandraveslikeaprophettoo.Hismessageisabitdifferent,enjoininghislistenerstoturnawayfromatraditionalnotionofGodandvalueswritteninstone;buthiscalltoapureheartandpuremind,andhisappealtoreturntoaninnatesenseofrightandwrongwithanemphasisoncaringforothersandstrivingtoliveaccordingtothehighestidealforhumanitymovesessentiallyinthesamevein.WhenIfirstpickedupthisbookIknewnexttonothingaboutNietzscheorthisspecificworkexcept,althoughIhadhearditreferredtobyoneofmyprofsinanegativelight.I’mprettysureweweresupposedtofeelsorryforNietzsche’sunfortunatebeliefs.Hisworkswerecitedasthevoiceofopposition.Somebodymust’veheardthatNietzschewastheSpiritofpostmodernism,averitableboogiemanfortheologians;butitdidn’tdawnonmeuntilyearsaftergradschoolthatmostpeoplewhospokeabouthimhadneveractuallyreadhisstuff,onlyexcerptsthattheirpeershadalreadyexcoriated.Well,therealironyhereisthatsomewherealongthelineIwasdesperateforsomethingthatmadesensebeyondtheconformisttheologyandterrifiedChristianapologeticthatwassupposedtokeepussowarmandsnug;andonenightIheardaprofquotinghimagainandthought,“Maybethisguywe’resupposedtobeafraidofmightactuallyhavesomeanswersI’mlookingfor.”YearslaterIwouldfindconfirmationtothesefeelingsinthewordsofJosephCampbell,“Wherewehadthoughttofindanabomination,weshallfindagod;wherewehadthoughttoslayanother,weshallslayourselves;wherewehadthoughttotraveloutward,weshallcometothecenterofourownexistence;wherewehadthoughttobealone,weshallbewithalltheworld.”IhadstartedreadingThusSpakeZarathustraatnightafterthenightsortatUPS,anditwaslikehugegulpsoffreshairsmuggledbetweentheironbarsoffundamentalism.AndsobeganmyjourneywiththeabominationthatiscalledNietzsche.EverybodyknowsaboutNietzsche,veryfewknowhim.Ubermenschisfuntosay,Iguessbecauseitmakesyousoundintelligentorsomething;butfewareaware,orevencare,aboutwhatNietzsche’sSupermanreallyisallabout.It’snoteasybeingNietzsche:Christianslovetohatehim,philosopherssmirktothinkthey’veoutgrownhim,politicalzealotsthrowhimoutasthehaplessfatherofNazism,butthere’ssomuchmisunderstanding.Somanywiki-dabblers,solittlereadingofhisactualwork.Iwon’tdenythat,notunlikeotherauthorsthatIlovetoread,somemisunderstandingsmaybeNietzsche’sownfault,butlikehisprophetZarathustra,hehasoffendedmanywiththetruthhehasgleaned,andhaslearnedtohidehimself“likeonewhohathswallowedgold—lestmysoulshouldberippedup.”Well,manyhaveguttedhim,andmadeaspectacleofselectionsfromhisworks,butfewhavefoundthewealthycurrentofhard-wontruththatflowsoutofhiscarcasslikehoney.ItmighthelptothinkofNietzschelesslikeanovelparlordiscussionthanaprison-break,andhisworksarebestunderstoodwhenreadinthedimlylitcelloffetidcustoms,onastarvation-dietofwater-thintraditions,andstretchedonarackofheartlessreligiousdoctrinesonwhichone’sjointsarealreadypoppingloosepreventingvitalliving.Nietzschewouldspitinthefaceofhisexecutioner,andgiveafinalwordofhopeandcouragetothoseofuswhoarenext.Hewoulddigyououttofreedom,andonceinthefreeair,helpyouescapethesearchlightsofMotherchurchandstate,furiouswithitsescapedworshipers.He’dbeagreatguytobearoundwhenpeoplearewrong.However,becausehe’sanihilist(notinthesenseofbelievinginnovalues,butinthesenseofbelievingwechooseourownvalues)wemayhavetobesatisfiedwithabandoninghimaswebeginanewlife.Hehasnopromiseofamaptoburiedtreasureonceoutsideprisonwalls,buthehastheconfidencethatwecanfiguretherestoutonourown.Nietzscheis,ingeneral,atonicagainstconformity.Zarathustrateachesthateachindividualoughttobeabletoeventuallyprivatizetheirsenseofselfworth,“Greatnessisachievedawayfromthemarketplace.”ButZarathustraisn’tanti-community,ratherhe’santi-celebrity,andheopposesanytypeofself-loathingthatisevincedinthedesiretobelovedbythemassestomakeupforone’slackofself-acceptance.Hespeaksupfortheindividual,andheisloud,evenbrash.WhereasBuddha’scomforttohisdisciplesdisarmedandpreventedthemfromengaginginanyevangelisticconflict(“Hewhoproclaimsthetruth,yemonks,fightswithnoman”),Zarathustrawarnsthetruth-beareroftheavoirdupoisofhiscalling:“Bewarethedoomoftheincendiary.”Ofcourse,therearetimes,whenone’scommunityfreezesinthecoldonthesideofamountain,thattheprogressivemanoftenneedstopretendtofreezewiththem,lesttheydiscoverthathehasfoundawarmgrottoontheothersidethatshamestheircontentedshivering.“Howcouldtheyenduremyhappiness,ifIdidnotputarounditaccidents,andwinter-privations,andbear-skincaps,andenmantlingsnowflakes!–ifIdidnotmyselfcommiseratetheirpity,thepityofthoseenviersandinjurers!–ifIdidnotmyselfsighbeforethem,andchatterwithcold,andpatientlyletmyselfbeswathedintheirpity!”Onemustoftenconcealhishappinesssothatothers’maynotfeeltheshameandwasteoftheirvoluntaryeaseandaccompanyingsufferingandboredom,andturnandattackhimforwakingtheirconscienceandjealosy.Jesuscautionedagainstthesameimprudentrevelationofone’sinternaltreasurethatmightbetrampledbypigsthathavenovalueforrichesbeyondthetroughs.Zarathustra’sdesiretoproclaimthetruthwhileavoidingprematuremartyrdombecomesanarthecelebratesinhimselfandothers.“Mysilencehathlearnednottobetrayitselfbysilence…theclear,thehonest,thetransparent[people]—theseareformethewisestsilentones:inthem,soprofoundisthedepththateventheclearestwaterdothnot—betrayit.”Strengthintheguiseofweaknessisonethingthatoftenmustbeendured,butweaknessmasqueradingasstrengthisanathemaintheschemeofplanningforthe‘superman’,orthenextstepinanthropo-historicalprogress.IncontrasttotheUbermensch,the‘lastman’hasceasedtostrivetobecomeahigherlifeform,ortogivebirthtoabeingthatcanadvancebeyonditsparents’limitations,butonlyevincesasoul-weariness.Life’smeaningforthis‘superfluousone’islostinwaking,dressing,eatingandsleeping.Livingissacrificedtomereexistence.Thelastmanisthetiredendofarace,theendofapeople’shistory.AndLordknowsweallknowpeoplethat,ifthefateofthehumanracewereleftintheirhands,wewouldbedonefor.We’renottalkingaboutgeneticimperfectionhere,butarefusaltoliveuptoone’sfullphysical,mental,andspiritualpotential;andofcourseinNietzsche’sthought,therearemanyreligiouspeoplethatareinfectedwiththe‘lastman’disease,andbloatedreligiousteachersarereferredtoas“despisersofthebody”,thosewhoseeinallthepresentmaterialworldanevilthatmustbeenduredfortherewardofaneasy,sleepyafterlife.ContrarytothesedespisersofthebodyistheUbermensch,thebeyond-man-and-woman,thedespiserofconventionalliving.Butthesebrandofdespisersareactually‘greatadorers’,becausetheysacrificewhatmankindistoachievewhatmankindcanbecome.Nietzschepassionwastrulyreligiousinessence.Hebuffetedreligionwithreligion,thoughI’msurehewouldturninhisgravetohearsomeonesuggestit.Whathasbeendubbedthe‘propheticimagination’ismostprominentinhim,andhepreachesasvehementlyasanylaterevivalistagainsttheerrorofprejudiceandbigotry.Hispreceptsaremuchmorenegativethanpositiveinthattheyareafoghornawayfromtheshoals,notasmuchabeaconguidingshipstoharbor.Butbeinganegativevoiceinnowiseimpliesthatheisapessimist.Pessimismendsinhopelessness,butNietzsche’shopeinthemeaningandpurposeoflifeisclear.Contrarytowhatmanypseudo-Nietzscheansbruit,Nietzsche,particularlyinthepersonaofZarathustra,believedlifetobebeautifulbecauseitisfullofpotentialandmeaning—“Welovelife,notbecausewearewonttolive,butbecausewearewonttolove.”Inhisparadigm,joyisdeeperthanwoe,sodeepinfactthatit“thirstsforwoe”toenrichjoyallthemore.Hebelievedinsomemysticalpermanenceofhumanexistence,andembracedwhatfeelslikeanEasternideaofrecurrenceandreincarnation.“Joysallwanteternity”,andthat’swhateachindividualcanexpect—aneternitytodiscoverandrediscoverthemeaningoftheirexistenceandtheunionofbeingsinlove.So,asIhavenowdevelopedaprofoundappreciationforsomeofhiswritings,doesthismeanIhavebecomeablindfanaticofNietzsche?Coursenot.HewritesinZarathustra,“Companionsthecreatorseeks,notcorpses,andnotherdsorbelieverseither.Fellow-creatorsthecreatorseeks,thosewhogravenewvaluesonnewtables.”Zarathustraatonepointleaveshisfollowersandsayshewillcometothemagainasfriendswhentheyhavelearnedtolivewithouthim,“Yevenerateme;butwhatifyourvenerationshouldsomedaycollapse?Takeheedlestastatuecrushyou!...NowdoIbidyoulosemeandfindyourselves;andonlywhenyehavealldeniedme,willIreturnuntoyou.”AndsoitgoeswithmydedicationtoNietzsche.ChristopherHitchens,inaposthumouspublicationofhisfinalessayscalledMortality,recollectsthatheonceansweredaninterviewer’squestionregardinghisfeelingsonNietzschebysayinghe“agreedwithsomeargumentsputforwardbythegreatmanbutdidn’toweanylargeinsighttohim,andfoundhiscontemptfordemocracytobesomewhatoff-putting.”ApparentlythewritingsofNietzscheweremuchmorepivotalinmylifethantheywereinHitchens’life,butIwouldechowithhimthattherearethingsIlikeaboutNietzsche,andthingsIdon’tlikeabouthim.IchoosetofocusonwhatIappreciatefromhisworks,butthatdoesnotvindicatehiminallwaysinmymind.SadIhavetostatethat,butit’swhatpeoplewanttohear.Isupposetheythinkthere’ssomethinginhisideasthatwillmakeyouwanttogocrazy,hughorses,andarguablydieofsyphilis.We’llsee. ...more flag 38likes · Like  · seereview Viewall10comments Jun25,2020 Luís ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: g-classics, g-philosophy, e-5-favourites, germany FriedrichNietzscheestablishesinhisbest-knownworkthebridgeofmanwithhisprimarynature.Morethanaparodyofthemetaphysicalimagery,thebookstatesthatmanhasundergoneanabstractforce,invisible.Zarathustrarevealstomanthatlifehasruledbychanceandthatthedeclineofhumannaturecomesintheexpectationthattherewillbesomethingorsomeonedirectingitinlife.TheteachingsofSocratesfoughtherebecauselifeforNietzscheisaforce,notanobjective.Therevela FriedrichNietzscheestablishesinhisbest-knownworkthebridgeofmanwithhisprimarynature.Morethanaparodyofthemetaphysicalimagery,thebookstatesthatmanhasundergoneanabstractforce,invisible.Zarathustrarevealstomanthatlifehasruledbychanceandthatthedeclineofhumannaturecomesintheexpectationthattherewillbesomethingorsomeonedirectingitinlife.TheteachingsofSocratesfoughtherebecauselifeforNietzscheisaforce,notanobjective.TherevelationofZarathustraispreciselythis:power,vigourandtransit.Movementsthatbringbacktohumannaturethedesirethateverythingbesacred,everythingrevolvesinacompletecircle,everythingmustbeablessing.Thisbook,poetic,bringsusanenthusiasticNietzsche,takenbyhisfavouritegod:art. ...more flag 38likes · Like  · seereview Aug03,2013 MohammadAliAbedi ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Ithadtohappen.TherehadtocomeamomentinmylifewhereIwouldsitdownandstartreading,"ThusSpokeZarathustra".AndIamgladIdid,becauseIcannowconfidentlystatethatthisbookisgarbage.Idon'tcarehowuncoolandunintelligentthismakesmeseem,butIhavenodoubtaboutit."ThusSpokeZarathustra:ABookforAllandNone"isanunnecessarilycomplicatedbookspoutingafewphilosophicalideaswrittenbyamegalomaniac,vain,angry,bitterman.Hereiswhathewroteabout Ithadtohappen.TherehadtocomeamomentinmylifewhereIwouldsitdownandstartreading,"ThusSpokeZarathustra".AndIamgladIdid,becauseIcannowconfidentlystatethatthisbookisgarbage.Idon'tcarehowuncoolandunintelligentthismakesmeseem,butIhavenodoubtaboutit."ThusSpokeZarathustra:ABookforAllandNone"isanunnecessarilycomplicatedbookspoutingafewphilosophicalideaswrittenbyamegalomaniac,vain,angry,bitterman.Hereiswhathewroteabouthisbook,"With[ThusSpokeZarathustra]Ihavegivenmankindthegreatestpresentthathaseverbeenmadetoitsofar.Thisbook,withavoicebridgingcenturies,isnotonlythehighestbookthereis,thebookthatistrulycharacterizedbytheairoftheheights—thewholefactofmanliesbeneathitatatremendousdistance—itisalsothedeepest,bornoutoftheinnermostwealthoftruth,aninexhaustiblewelltowhichnopaildescendswithoutcomingupagainfilledwithgoldandgoodness."Thestory,ifwecancallitthat,isaboutaProphet(namedafterthePersianProphet)whoafteryearsofsolidarityandmeditationdecidestoembarkhisknowledgeonpeople.Thefactthatmanydonotlistentohiminitiallyandmockhim,seemstomewhatNietzschemighthavethoughtofhisownsituation.Atthispointofhislife,hisbookswerenotverywellreceived,hehadlosthisfriends,andhadnofemalerelationshipsasidefromhissister.SupportersofNietzschealwaystrytofindexcusesforhim,butitisobvioustome,thathewasanangryyoungman,andthoughtofhimselfaspossessingwisdomthatothersdidnotappreciatefully.Tome,thebookcanbecomparedtoKhalilGibran's"TheProphet",abookthatiseasytoreadandfulloflifeandlove,nobitternessorimmatureanger,thewayIfeltNietzsche'salter-egohad.ItwasonlymyinabilitytoleaveabookunfinishedthatIcompletedthebook.AndIamreadytobetanythingthatalotofpeoplewhohavepickedup"ThusSpokeZarathustra"anditistheirshameofnotlikingitthathidestheiropiniononit,leavingatrailofgoodimageofthebook.Butifweforceeveryonewhostartsittofinishitandgiveustheirhonestopinion,Iwouldbetthatinseveralyears,wecanjustleavethebooktoobsessedphilosophymajors.Nietzsche'sviewonwomenisdefendedbycontemporarystudentsofphilosophy,claimingitismisunderstood,buttome,itisjustareflectionofasicklymanthathasnoluckwithanywomen,andtheonlyoneinhislife,washissister.Keepthatimageofhiminyourmind,whenyoureadthebelow,"AsIwentonmywayaloneto-day,atthehourwhenthesundeclineth,theremetmeanoldwoman,andshespakethusuntomysoul:"MuchhathZarathustraspokenalsotouswomen,butneverspakeheuntousconcerningwoman."AndIansweredher:"Concerningwoman,oneshouldonlytalkuntomen.""Talkalsountomeofwoman,"saidshe;"Iamoldenoughtoforgetitpresently."AndIobligedtheoldwomanandspakethusuntoher:Everythinginwomanisariddle,andeverythinginwomanhathonesolution—itiscalledpregnancy.Manisforwomanameans:thepurposeisalwaysthechild.Butwhatiswomanforman?Twodifferentthingswanteththetrueman:dangeranddiversion.Thereforewantethhewoman,asthemostdangerousplaything.Manshallbetrainedforwar,andwomanfortherecreationofthewarrior:allelseisfolly.Toosweetfruits—thesethewarriorlikethnot.Thereforelikethhewoman;—bitteriseventhesweetestwoman.Betterthanmandothwomanunderstandchildren,butmanismorechildishthanwoman.Inthetruemanthereisachildhidden:itwantethtoplay.Upthen,yewomen,anddiscoverthechildinman!Aplaythingletwomanbe,pureandfinelikethepreciousstone,illuminedwiththevirtuesofaworldnotyetcome.Letthebeamofastarshineinyourlove!Letyourhopesay:"MayIbeartheSuperman!"Inyourlovelettherebevalour!Withyourloveshallyeassailhimwhoinspirethyouwithfear!Inyourlovebeyourhonour!Littledothwomanunderstandotherwiseabouthonour.Butletthisbeyourhonour:alwaystolovemorethanyeareloved,andneverbethesecond.Letmanfearwomanwhensheloveth:thenmakethsheeverysacrifice,andeverythingelsesheregardethasworthless.Letmanfearwomanwhenshehateth:formaninhisinnermostsoulismerelyevil;woman,however,ismean.Whomhatethwomanmost?—Thusspaketheirontotheloadstone:"Ihatetheemost,becausethouattractest,butarttooweaktodrawuntothee."Thehappinessofmanis,"Iwill."Thehappinessofwomanis,"Hewill.""Lo!nowhaththeworldbecomeperfect!"—thusthinketheverywomanwhensheobeyethwithallherlove.Obey,mustthewoman,andfindadepthforhersurface.Surface,iswoman'ssoul,amobile,stormyfilmonshallowwater.Man'ssoul,however,isdeep,itscurrentgushethinsubterraneancaverns:womansurmisethitsforce,butcomprehendethitnot.—Thenansweredmetheoldwoman:"ManyfinethingshathZarathustrasaid,especiallyforthosewhoareyoungenoughforthem.Strange!Zarathustraknowethlittleaboutwoman,andyetheisrightaboutthem!Doththishappen,becausewithwomennothingisimpossible?Andnowacceptalittletruthbywayofthanks!Iamoldenoughforit!Swaddleitupandholditsmouth:otherwiseitwillscreamtooloudly,thelittletruth.""Giveme,woman,thylittletruth!"saidI.Andthusspaketheoldwoman:"Thougoesttowomen?Donotforgetthywhip!"—"Asasidenote,IstartedthebookwhichwasThomasCommon'stranslation,donein1916.Halfwaythroughthebook,Iswitchedtoanewertranslation(2006)byAdriandelCaro,whichwassupposedtoreadbetter.Isupposeitis,butitwasstillastruggletogetthrough. ...more flag 36likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Apr03,2010 JohnKulm ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Ihaven’tbeenabletosincerelylaughinalong,longtime.ThisbookgavemewhatIneeded:alogicalbasisforacceptinglaughterintomylifeagain.Ididn’texpecttheintuitiveintrovertatheisticexistentialistNietzschetohaveanythingtosayaboutlaughter,butlaughterwasoneoftheprimarythemeshere.Thisbookisn’tjustacollectionofaphilosopher’swisdom.Nietzschejourneyeddeepinsidehimselfforhiswriting–sodeepthathelosthisownsanityandultimatelycouldn’tagai Ihaven’tbeenabletosincerelylaughinalong,longtime.ThisbookgavemewhatIneeded:alogicalbasisforacceptinglaughterintomylifeagain.Ididn’texpecttheintuitiveintrovertatheisticexistentialistNietzschetohaveanythingtosayaboutlaughter,butlaughterwasoneoftheprimarythemeshere.Thisbookisn’tjustacollectionofaphilosopher’swisdom.Nietzschejourneyeddeepinsidehimselfforhiswriting–sodeepthathelosthisownsanityandultimatelycouldn’tagainfindhiswayout.Andyet,thisbooksaysprofoundthingsaboutlaughter.Hispoint,ifIunderstoodcorrectly,isthatlaughteristhewaytobeopentoseeingyourself;tofacewhoyoureallyare;andtoacceptyourselfwithoutwallsandresistance.Somequotesonthattopic:“ThusspokeZarathustra.AndthentheshoutingandlaughteroftheHigherMenagaincamefromthecave:ithadstartedagain.‘Theyarebiting,mybaitiseffective,beforethemtootheirenemy,theSpiritofGravity,iswavering.Alreadytheyarelearningtolaughatthemselves:doIheararight?’”“Hecallsearthandlifeheavy:andsowilltheSpiritofGravityhaveit!Buthewhowantstobecomelightandabirdmustlovehimself–thusdoIteach.”“Mankind’smostdistant,mostprofoundquestions,hisreachingtothefurtheststars,hisprodigiouspower:doesthatnotfoamtogetherinyourpot?Nowondermanyapotisshattered!Learntolaughatyourselvesasamanoughttolaugh.YouHigherMen,ohhowmuchisstillpossible!”Nietzsche,throughZarathustra,hadapoeticsimilaritytoRumi.Herearesomeofmyfavoritepassages:“Itisnight:nowdoallleapingfountainsspeaklouder.Andmysoultooisaleapingfountain.Itisnight:onlynowdoallsongsofloversawaken.Andmysoultooisthesongofalover.”“Ishouldonlybelieveinagodthatwouldknowhowtodance.AndwhenIsawmydevil,Ifoundhimserious,thorough,profound,solemn:hewasthespiritofgravity–throughhimallthingsfall.Notbywrath,butbylaughter,doweslay.Come,letusslaythespiritofgravity!Ilearnedtowalk;sincethenIhaveletmyselfrun.Ilearnedtofly;sincethenIdonotneedpushinginordertomovefromaspot.NowamIlight,nowdoIfly;nowdoIseemyselfundermyself.NowtheredancethaGodinme”“Forthesoulwhichpossessesthelongestladderandcandescendthedeepest:howshouldthemostparasitesnotsituponit?Themostspacioussoul,whichcanrunandstrayandroamthefarthestintoitself;themostnecessarysoul,whichoutofjoyhurlsitselfintochance-”“Lonelinessisonething,solitudeanother:youhavelearnedthat–now!Andthatamongmenyouwillalwaysbewildandstrange:wildandstrangeevenwhentheyloveyou:forabovealltheywanttobeindulged!”“Oafternoonofmylife!Ohappinessbeforeevening!Oharbourinmid-sea!Opeaceinuncertainty!HowImistrustyouall!Truly,Iammistrustfulofyourinsidiousbeauty!Iamliketheloverwhomistrustsall–too-velvetysmiles.Asthejealousmanthrustshisbelovedfromhim,tendereveninhishardness–thusdoIthrustthisblissfulhourfromme.Awaywithyou,blissfulhour!Withyoutherecametomeaninvoluntarybliss!Istandherereadyformydeepestpain–youcameoutofseason!”“Ofallthatiswritten,Iloveonlywhatapersonhathwrittenwithhisblood.Writewithblood,andthouwiltfindthatbloodisspirit.”“Inthemountainstheshortestwayisfrompeaktopeak,butforthatroutethoumusthavelonglegs.Proverbsshouldbepeaks,andthosespokentoshouldbebigandtall.Theatmosphererareandpure,dangernearandthespiritfullofajoyfulwickedness:thusarethingswellmatched.Iwanttohavegoblinsaboutme,forIamcourageous.Thecouragewhichscarethawayghosts,createthforitselfgoblins–itwantethtolaugh.” ...more flag 31likes · Like  · seereview Jul07,2019 BibliomysteriousBAM ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: classic-literature, e-book, own, binah-3-books-left Ihonestlydon’tknowwhattothinkaboutthisIfeellikeI’mbreakingmostoftheTenCommandmentsReadingthisbook.Unclean,unclean flag 32likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Jun09,2018 Veronica ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: philosophy Nietzsche,likemanygreatthinkers,contradictshimselfenormously.Hewritesthatthemobis"innocentlycrooked,italwayslies"andthat"nothingismorevaluableandraretodaythanhonesty."Butwearetoldearlieronbyamurmuringdwarfthat"everythingstraightlies...alltruthiscrooked,timeitselfisacircle."Thesenotionsmaynotbemutuallyexclusive,butifonereadseachcharacterinthisnovelasanexpressionofhisbeliefs,itiseasytospotmanyincongruities.Perhapshe Nietzsche,likemanygreatthinkers,contradictshimselfenormously.Hewritesthatthemobis"innocentlycrooked,italwayslies"andthat"nothingismorevaluableandraretodaythanhonesty."Butwearetoldearlieronbyamurmuringdwarfthat"everythingstraightlies...alltruthiscrooked,timeitselfisacircle."Thesenotionsmaynotbemutuallyexclusive,butifonereadseachcharacterinthisnovelasanexpressionofhisbeliefs,itiseasytospotmanyincongruities.Perhapsheissuggestingthatwevaluetruthandstillrecognizethattruthitselfisaserpentineconceptinthesphereoftime.WemayalsobepersuadedthatNietzschehasreconciledthesenotions,asheinformsusshortlyafterthat"hewhocannotliedoesnotknowwhattruthis." WhenreadingNietzsche,Isuspectmodernreadersmightfindthedensityofhiswritingandtheslightarroganceunderlyinghiscriticismof'lowlypeople'tobedistasteful.Iadmitthisisnotabookforeveryone.IadoredPessoa's TheBookofDisquiet asIadoredThusSpokeZarathustra,butIrecognizethatmyloveforthesebooksisparticulartomypersonality.Ilovephilosophicalramblings,Ilovebookssuffusedwithideas—evenbetterifIdonotsubscribetoallthoseideas.Itakeproseplainorpurple,philosophylucidorcomplex.Iam,inthissense,areceptivereadertomosteverything.ThusSpokeZarathustramaybetooassertiveforsome,tooramblingforothers,butjustrightforafew.IamclearlyofthegroupthatdelightsinNietszche’swork,contraryandbyzantineasitmaybe.ArelevantquotefromNietzscheconcerningthisbook(aswritteninOntheGenealogyofMorals):"Icannotacknowledgethatanyonereallyknowsthatbook[Zarathustra]wellunlesshehasbeeneitherdeeplywoundedbyitordeeplydelightedbyitateverypoint;thenandonlythencanheenjoytheprivilegeofparticipating,withallduereverence,inthehalcyonelementfromwhichthatworkisborn,andinitssunnybrilliance,itsgrandscope,itscomposedassurance." ...more flag 29likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Feb20,2014 DavidSarkies ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Recommendsitfor: PhilosophersofModernism RecommendedtoDavidby: StewartWymer Shelves: philosophy TheEvolutionofHumanity5March2014 ItisfromthisbookthatonecomesacrosstheideasthatFredrickNietzscheisparticularlyfamousfor,thatbeingtheconceptoftheubermenschandwilltopoweraswellastheideathatwhenonegazesintotheabysstheabyssgazesintoyou(thoughthatquoteactuallycomesfrom'BeyondGoodandEvil'thoughtherearereferencesinthisbookaboutgazingintotheabyss).ThisisprobablythebookthatmanyofuswhohaveheardofNietzsche(whichIsuspec TheEvolutionofHumanity5March2014 ItisfromthisbookthatonecomesacrosstheideasthatFredrickNietzscheisparticularlyfamousfor,thatbeingtheconceptoftheubermenschandwilltopoweraswellastheideathatwhenonegazesintotheabysstheabyssgazesintoyou(thoughthatquoteactuallycomesfrom'BeyondGoodandEvil'thoughtherearereferencesinthisbookaboutgazingintotheabyss).ThisisprobablythebookthatmanyofuswhohaveheardofNietzsche(whichIsuspectisquiteafewofus,especiallyinthisforum)immediatelythinkofwhenhisnamecomesupinconversation.Ontheotherhand,whenhisnamecomesupinconversation,wealsogenerallyimmediatelythinkofthisguy: HowevertheconnectionwithNeiztscheandHitleristenuousatbest,andashasbeenindicatedbyanumberofpeople,themostdirectconnectionwaswhenHitlermetNeiztsche'ssister.However,thatdoesnotnecessarilymeanthatHitlerdidnotborrowNeiztsche'sideasandtwistandcorruptthemintohisown(thoughtakingsomebodyelse'sideasisnotnecessarilyabadthing,andbecausesomebodytakestheseideasandputsthemtoevilusesdoesnotnecessarilymeanthattheprogenitatoroftheseideasisevilthemselves–IfinditfunnythatfundamentalistChristiansattackNeiztschebecauseHitlerusesNeiztsche'sideastojustifymassgenocideyettheycompletelyignorethefactthatothershavedonethesamethingwithideasfromtheBible,andtosuggestthatonthebasisoftheargumentthattheyusetocondemnNeiztschetheyshouldalsocondemntheBible). Granted,NeiztschedoesnotthinkallthatmuchaboutChristianity–infacthebelievesthewholeconceptofmeeknessandgentlenesstobeasignofweakness.Forinstance,theideafromthisbookisnotthatGodcreatedmanbutthatmancreatedGodtocomforthimintimesoftrouble,andtogivehimselfhopewhennoneexisted.Further,theideaofthePriesthoodisillogicalbecausethepriesthoodisonlycreatedtogivelegitimacytotheideaoftherebeingaGod,andintheendthepriesthoodisauselessappendage,acancerthatlatchesitselfontosocietyandeffectivelydrainsitofmuchofitsproductivity.Thisismoresothecasewhenthepriesthoodusestheofferingsandgiftsofthepopulationtoliveacomfortablelifestylewhiletherestofsocietystruggleswiththeirdaytodaylife. Thisisprobablywhereisideaof'Godisdead'comesfrom(anotherfamoussayingfromthisbook)thoughwherethissayingoccurs,itismoretodowithZarathustramourningaprophetandpityshimbysaying'doeshenotrealisethatGodisdead'.Now,thisideaisnotthatGodhimselfisdead(becauseNeiztschedoesnotbelieveinGod–heisanatheist)butratherthatthegodthatwascreatedbyhumanityisdeadinthathumanityhasreachedapointwheretheyhaverealisedthattheynolongerneedtheirgodandhavewalkedawayfromhiminunbelief,andassuchbecausenobodybelievesinthisgodanymorethereisnolongeranybelieftokeepthisgodsustained,andthusgodisdead.Thoughfastforwardtoourtimeandwediscoverthattheneedtobelieveinagodisaliveandwell,andassuchtheconceptofgodisstillaliveandwell–andalsonoticethatIamnotcapitalisinggod,becausethisisnotthebigGGodthatIbelievein,butrathertheconceptofagodthatsocietyfeelsthattheyneedtobelieveintogivethemcomfortandhope. Now,letusignorehistoryforasecond(namelytheideaofMosesandAnkenhatencomingupwiththeideaofasingle,monotheistic,god)andlookattheperiodinwhichZarathustralived.ZarathustralivedinAncientPersiaatatimewhenPersiawasapolytheisticsociety.HoweverZarathustraburstontothescenewitharadicalnewconceptofnotmanygodsbuttwogodswhowereequalandoppositeandthatthesetwogodswereinaconstantstruggle,onerepresentinggood(Ahura-Mazda)andonerepresentingevil(AngraMainyu).Actually,IthinktheWikipediadefinitionoftheconflictbetweentruthandlieisamuchbetterbecausegoodandevilarenotnecessarilyobjectiveconcepts.ThisphilosophycaughtonlikewildfireandwentontoinfluencethethinkingofnumerousGreekphilosophersandinturntheentireWesternWorld.Thereasonthatthisisimportantisbecausethepreviousattemptstocreateamonotheisticreligionfailed,buttheriseofZorastrianisminPersiacaughton,andthusitisinterestingtonotethatafterCyrusallowedtheJewstoreturntotheirhomelandtheybecamemuchmorecommittedtomaintainingtheirownmonotheisticreligionthantheywerebeforetheBabylonianCaptivity. Now,twoandahalfthousandyearslaterweareenteringanothersiesmicshiftinthethoughtofWesternCivilisation,andNeiztscheishailingbacktothefoundingofZorastrianphilosophytoactasabasisforthisnewshiftinmodernthought.Whatwashappeningnowasthattheideaoftheeternalconflictbetweenthetruthandtheliewaschangingtobecomenotsomuchaconflict,butratherameansofprogression.Truthandlienolongerstandforeveropposingeachother,butrathertheyactasopposingforcesthatseektofindacommonground,andoncethatcommongroundisfoundtheycometogethertoformacompletelynewtruth–Hegel'sdialectic. IprobablyshouldsaysomethingabouttheplotandthestructureofthebookbeforeImoveontotheideasoftheubermenschandthewilltopower.ThebookappearstobeacollectionofspeechesmadebytheprophetZarasthustratohisdiscipleswhothengoontobecomehighermen(thoughnotubermensch,asthatappearstobeanotherstageinthejourneyofhumanity).Thisisnot'the'Zarathustra,butratheravehiclethroughwhichNeiztscheisespousinghisphilosophyofchange.Howeverthisismorethanjustacollectionofsayings,butitisratheranovelthroughwhichwewatchZarathustraandhisphilosophygrow,andhowhisdisciplescometounderstandandgrowbybeinghisdisciplesandlisteningtohisphilosophy. Now,letusconsiderthedoctrineoftheubermensch.Ifindthatbytranslatingtheubermenschtosupermancanbeverymisleadingbecausemanyofusequatesupermanwiththis: ThisisnottheideathatthatIbelievedNeiztschewasspeculatingon,justasIdoubtJerrySeigelhadNeiztscheinmindwhenhecreatedtheeponymoussuperhero.However,theideaofthesuperhero,atleastwithregardstotheideathatcomesoutinthecomics,iswhatNeiztschewasexploringinhiswritings.Inaway,myunderstandingoftheubermenschimpliestheideaofhumanityevolvingfromitscurrentstateintoanewstate,andthisevolutionisaselfconsciousevolutionthatwedecidewewanttodo.Inawayitisreachingapointwhereweareincontrolofourselvesandnotdominatedbyourlustsandpassions.Itisreachingthepointwherewecansayno,andwecanforcethatdesirefromourmind,andthemorecontrolwehaveoverourdesires,thelesscontrolthosedesireshaveoverus.Inawayitformsabasisformodernpsychologywherepsychologistsseektoteachus'thoughtcontrol'meaningthatwhenaninvasivethoughtentersoutmind,wecrushthatthoughtbeforeitdominatesus. Thisiswheretheconceptofthewilltopowercomesin.Thewilltopoweriswhereweexerciseourwilltocontrolourdesiresandourpassions,andinturnourthoughts.Thusbyhavingthewillwehavepowerbecausewehavepoweroverourselvesandourlives,andwearenotdominatedorcontrolledbytheworldaroundus.Itisthepointwherewerearebombardedwithadvertisingtobuythingsthatwedon'tneedtobeabletosay'Idon'tneedthat'andthereforedonotbuyit.Itisthewilltobeabletocontrolourpassionsanddesirestothepointwherewearenotlivingunderperpetualdebt. Ifthereisanunbermenschthathasbeeninexistence,thatperson,tome,wouldbenoneotherthanJesusChrist.TomeJesusistheultimateexampleofamanwhoenjoyedlifeandhadfun,butdidnotlethispassionsordesiresovercomehimsothathewasabletomovethroughhislife,teachandinteachingbeingabletoliveoutanexampleofhisteaching.Hedidnotshyawayfrompersecution,didnotlethimselfbediscouragedbymockers,anddidnotlethimselfgetcaughtupwithpopularity.Mostofall,hedidnotsellouttothereligiousandpoliticalheavyweightsofhisday,butheremainedcommittedtoacceptingeverybodyontheirownmerits,andwouldliveandassociatewiththosewhomsocietyhadultimatelyrejected. ...more flag 24likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jul08,2015 Geoff markeditasto-read  ·  reviewofanotheredition IreadthiswhenIwasinmylateteens;therefore,Ihaveneverreadit,itistobereadbymenowthatImorecapableofreadingandthinking... flag 24likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Oct13,2015 J ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Ididnotfinishthiswork.Howneat,Nietzsche!Thisiswritteninabiblicalandarchaicstyleandsoundsquite...biblicalandarchaic.Idonotagreewiththis.Yeslifeistoughandallyoucando,withoutsuicide,isliveit,butyoudon'thavetobesuchanasshole--suchapower-hungrycontrariantomakeitthrough.Butthereismorethanafundamentaldisagreementtomakemedislikethisbook.Nietzche,atfirst,wasaprotegeofSchopenhauer's.ButlaterNietzschethoughttheGermanIdeal Ididnotfinishthiswork.Howneat,Nietzsche!Thisiswritteninabiblicalandarchaicstyleandsoundsquite...biblicalandarchaic.Idonotagreewiththis.Yeslifeistoughandallyoucando,withoutsuicide,isliveit,butyoudon'thavetobesuchanasshole--suchapower-hungrycontrariantomakeitthrough.Butthereismorethanafundamentaldisagreementtomakemedislikethisbook.Nietzche,atfirst,wasaprotegeofSchopenhauer's.ButlaterNietzschethoughttheGermanIdealisttooconcernedwithempathyandsuffering.AndwhatabouthisoldmentorSchopenhauer?Avastlysuperiorwriterandthinker.NietzschewritesandwritesandallIcanfindareafewgoodlines.OldArthur,bycomparison,writessuccinctly,isinfinitelyquotable,clear,andconcise.Headvocatescompassion--Nietzscheadvocateswhat?Amisanthropicenthusiasmforegomania?Schopsays,Avoidpainandboredombycurbingcravings.Nietzschesays,Don'tpitypeople?Seekpower?Ifhewantedtofacelifeinapessimisticallycourageousway,hehasbeenoutdonebyEmileCioranandeventhesomewhatpatheticabsurdist,AlbertCamus.Sartrehasaddedmoreironytodespairwhilestillfacingthechallengeofexistenceresponsibly,thewayinwhichIbelieveNietzschemusthaveintended;buthefellshort.And,eternalrecurrence?Comeon.Onemightaswellbelieveinheavenandhellandalovinggod.Iwasexcitedtoreadthis,butIwasdisappointed.Ifnotforhisintriguingdeclineintomadnessanddeath,Nietzschewouldnotbesuchawell-knownphilosopher.Manygreatermindsarelesswidelyreadbecausetheyremainedsaneanddiedofoldage.Idolikethebitsabouttheherd,the"many-too-many."Isharesomeofhiscontemptforthecommonrunofhumanity.NietzscheistheKurtCobainofphilosophers--likeJimiHendrix,JanisJoplin,andJimMorrison,he'sbeenrewardedposthumouslyforaninterestinganduntimelydemise,whilegreaterartistswholivelongerandproducegreaterworksarenotthoughtofashighly.Forsomereasonhumanslovetheideaofunfulfilledpotential.Ipreferthemorefulfilledkind.Oh,andIlikeallthoserockstarsImentionedmorethanNietzsche,too. ...more flag 23likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Apr13,2020 Murtaza ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition ItwouldbepresumptuoustosuggestIhadthecapacitytoevaluateorevensayanythingnewaboutNietszche,whoalongwithKarlMarxwasoneofthetwomostinfluentialthinkersofthepasttwocenturies.LikemostpeopleI'veabsorbedmanyofhisideasbyosmosisthroughvariousformsandhadafamiliaritywiththemevenbeforethefirsttimeIreadoneofhisessays.ReadingThusSpokeZarathustraforthefirsttimehowever,therewassomethingthatstruckme:theextenttowhichthisiswrit ItwouldbepresumptuoustosuggestIhadthecapacitytoevaluateorevensayanythingnewaboutNietszche,whoalongwithKarlMarxwasoneofthetwomostinfluentialthinkersofthepasttwocenturies.LikemostpeopleI'veabsorbedmanyofhisideasbyosmosisthroughvariousformsandhadafamiliaritywiththemevenbeforethefirsttimeIreadoneofhisessays.ReadingThusSpokeZarathustraforthefirsttimehowever,therewassomethingthatstruckme:theextenttowhichthisiswrittenlikeaspiritualtext.Nietzschewasararityinbeingagreatwriter,evenintranslation.Thetextofthisbookisutterlyimmersiveandfeelsmorelikeplungingintoaterrifyingworldthanscanningwordsonapage.InthisheremindedmeofIbnArabi,whomyoudon'treadsomuchasdoseyourselfon.Iwouldsuggestthatthisbookhasagenuinepsychologicaleffectonitsreader.Whenyoureadacanonicalworklaterinlifeyou'veprobablyalreadyconsumedahugeamountofculturaloutputbearingitsinfluence.ThusSpokeZarathustraisfullofsnapshotsofpsychedelicimageryandbroughttomindmanyotherwiseinexplicablepsychologicalhorrorfilmsI'dseenovertheyears.Thepurposebehindhiswriting,Ibelieve,wastobreakdownthementalandspiritualedificethatmanhadcreatedovermillenniasothatsomethingnewcouldbebuiltinitsplace:theoverman.Thesacredhadtobeprofanedbutmoreimportantlysomeshocktherapywasinordertotrulybreakpeoplefreeofthemooringsthatheldtheminplace.Nietzschedescribedhimselfinoneunforgettablepassageas"aheavydropfromthedarkcloud,"thatheraldedthetimebeforethelightningcame.Hewasright. ...more flag 23likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Jun20,2009 MarkGowan ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Nietzschetendstobeoneofthosephilosophersthatreaderseitherreallylike(theliterarycrowdwhoreadstheoccasionalphilosopher)orreallydon'tlike(thephilosophycrowdwhoreadstheoccasionalnovelist).IsupposeIamoneofthelatter.WhileIenjoyreadingsomeofNietzsche'sworks,Ienjoythemmostwhenhecentersthemaroundhis"idealman"concept."ThusSpoke"doesn'tseemtobeoneofthose.Simplyput,thesectionsareshortsituationalstoriesconcerningZarathustraandd Nietzschetendstobeoneofthosephilosophersthatreaderseitherreallylike(theliterarycrowdwhoreadstheoccasionalphilosopher)orreallydon'tlike(thephilosophycrowdwhoreadstheoccasionalnovelist).IsupposeIamoneofthelatter.WhileIenjoyreadingsomeofNietzsche'sworks,Ienjoythemmostwhenhecentersthemaroundhis"idealman"concept."ThusSpoke"doesn'tseemtobeoneofthose.Simplyput,thesectionsareshortsituationalstoriesconcerningZarathustraanddifferentpeoplethathemeets.Zarathustraimpartshisunworldlyadviceandwisdomtothosewhodonotunderstandit.Nietzschewasnotareligiousman,inanyrealsenseoftheword,butinthisbookitishardtorememberthat.WhileIwouldrecommendthisbooksimplybecauseofits"classical"status,Ican'tsaythatitwasoneofmyfavorites.But,perhapsitsonlybecauseIdonotunderstandit. ...more flag 23likes · Like  · seereview Oct25,2011 Giorgi ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Recommendsitfor: +18 itisimpossibleto"experience"thisbookandpreserveyouridentity. itisimpossibleto"experience"thisbookandpreserveyouridentity. ...more flag 20likes · Like  · seereview Oct07,2008 Mr. ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Nietzsche'sThusSpokeZarathustraremainsoneofthemostpowerfulandcryptictomesinthehistorywesternthought.Isthisaworkofphilosophyorpoetry?DuetotheimmensepowerofNietzsche'swriting,itremainshighlyreadable,evenforthosewhoarenotusuallycomfortablereadingphilosophy.Intheprologue,NietzschedescribesZarathustra'sisolationinthemountainsandhisintentiontodescendsothathecanteachmankind.ZarathustraproclaimsthatGodisdeadandtheoverman,thes Nietzsche'sThusSpokeZarathustraremainsoneofthemostpowerfulandcryptictomesinthehistorywesternthought.Isthisaworkofphilosophyorpoetry?DuetotheimmensepowerofNietzsche'swriting,itremainshighlyreadable,evenforthosewhoarenotusuallycomfortablereadingphilosophy.Intheprologue,NietzschedescribesZarathustra'sisolationinthemountainsandhisintentiontodescendsothathecanteachmankind.ZarathustraproclaimsthatGodisdeadandtheoverman,thesortofmanwhohasovercomehisownnature.Zarathustraproclaims:"Thetimehascomeformantosethimselfagoal.Thetimehascomeformantoplanttheseedofhishighesthope"(17).NietzscheispassinghisphilosophicalprojectontoZarathustraasanauthormightpasshispersonalimpressionsontoafictionalcharacter.Zarathustraisanewsymbolofwisdominthemodernera;heteachesthatmanisnowburdenedwiththetaskofcreatingameaningforhimself.InZarathustra'sspeeches,hespeaksofthe"threemetamorphosesofthespirit"(25),whichincludehowthespiritbecomesacamel,thecamelalion,andthelionachild.ForNietzsche,eventhelionoffreedomisnotsufficient;thechildwhocancreaterepresentsthepossibilityofanoverman.Zarathustrasays:"Thechildisinnocenceandforgetting,anewbeginning,agame,aself-propelledwheel,afirstmovement,asacred`Yes.'Forthegameofcreation,mybrothers,asacred`Yes'isneeded:thespiritnowwillshisownwill,andhewhohadbeenlosttotheworldnowconquershisownworld"(27).ZarathustrateachesmanthatGodistheresultofanactofcreation,thatmaniscapableofwillingnewgodsandgoals.Hesays:"thisgodwhomIcreatedwasman-madeandmadness,likeallGods!"(33).ZarathustramightbecalledtheGodoftheBodyasheclaimsthatitwasoriginallythesickanddecayingwhohatedthebodyandnatureandsubsequentlycreatedheaven.Zarathustraprovidesandalternative:"Listenrather,mybrothers,tothevoiceofthehealthybody:thatisamorehonestandpurervoice.Morehonestlyandpurelyspeaksthehealthybodythatisperfectandperpendicular:anditspeaksofthemeaningoftheearth"(33).Zarathustrawarnsmanofthepowerof`GoodandEvil,'ofpreachersofvirtuesandthesoul.However,forallofman'screativeeffortsinconjuringsystemsofvalue,manstillisleftwithoutacleargoal.Zarathustraconcludesthefirstbookbyinsistingthathewillonlyreturnwhenhislistenershavedeniedhim,forhedesirestocultivateanindependenceofthought.Inthesecondbook,Zarathustrareturnsandbeginstospeakaboutcreationandpitying.Inthesecondsection(UpontheBlessedIsles),hearguesthat"Godisaconjecture;butIdesirethatyourconjecturesshouldnotreachbeyondyourcreativewill.Couldyoucreateagod?Thendonotspeaktomeofanygods.Butyoucouldwellcreatetheoverman[...]oftheovermanyoucouldrecreateyourselves:andletthisbeyourbestcreation"(86).ForZarathustra,creationisthesolutiontoredeemmanfromhissuffering.Additionally,man'swilltopowerisapotentiallyliberatingcapacity.Inthefifthsection,Zarathustracriticallyexaminesdifferentconceptionsoftraditionalvirtue.Hesays:"youaretoopureforthefilthofthewords:revenge,punishment,reward,retribution"(94).Aftermuchvivisectionandrefutation,ZarathustramovesintoadiscussionofthepossiblemeaningofexistenceformaninthesectionOntheTarantulas.Here,hemakesaproposal:"Forthatmanbedeliveredfromrevenge,thatisformethebridgetothehighesthope,andarainbowafterlongstorms"(99).Zarathustrawarnsmantomistrustallwhohaveapowerfulinclinationtoseekrevengeandenactpunishment.Inbookthree,Zarathustracontinueshispropheticteachingstomankind,thoughheinsiststhatheis"Godless"(170).Hereflectsabouttheabsenceofhavingatrueaudience;onegetstheimpressionthatZarathustraisechoingNietzsche'slonelinessasalargelyunrecognizedphilosopherandwriter.HecontinueswithatransvaluationofallvalueswhereinZarathustradeclaresthe`threebestcursedthings,'whichare:"sex,thelusttorule,[and]selfishness"(188).HecondemnsChristianity'sdisapprovalofthesethings,arguingthatsexrepresentsahappinessofthebody,thelusttoruleisavariantofthewilltopower,andselfishnessisamodeofselfenjoyment.Zarathustraisconcernedthatthedominantinstitutionsofourtimehaveconditionedhumanbeingstohateandfearthemselves.Additionally,heteachesmanaboutman'sultimatepurpose,whichhedescribesinthethirdsectionof`TheOldandNewTablets,'wherehewrites:"ThereitwastoothatIpickeduptheword`overman'bytheway,andthatmanissomethingthatmustbeovercome-thatmanisabridgeandnoend"(198).ForZarathustra,agoingunderisacrossingover,atransition.Inthisway,mankindistaughttoconfronthisownmortality.In`TheConvalescent,'Zarathustrarestsforsevendaysafteracollapseinhiscave.Heisupsetwiththeanimalsforwatchinghiminpain,forpainandcruelty(whetheritisdirectedinwardoroutward)isthegreatestflawofman.ItisherethatZarathustragiveshismostprofoundteaching:"Alas,manrecurseternally!Thesmallmanrecurseternally!'Zarathustrahasestablishedhisreasonforbeing:toteachtheeternalrecurrenceofthesame.Alleventsandbeingsoftheuniversehaveexistedaninfinitenumberoftimesandwillcontinuetorepeateternally.Zarathustraclaims:"Imyselfbelongtothecausesoftheeternalrecurrence.Icomeagain,withthissun,withthisearth,withthiseagle,withthisserpent-nottoanewlifeorabetterlifeorasimilarlife:Icomebacketernallytothissame,selfsamelife,inwhatisgreatestasinwhatissmallest,toteachagaintheeternalrecurrenceofallthethings"(221).Itisbecauseoftheeternalrecurrenceofthesamethatmankindshouldaffirmlifeandwillsubsequentlyovercomenihilism.Zarathustraexpressesadesirethatmankindembracehimselfassuch,andtobewillingtoactasabridgeforsomethinggreater.Hedeclares:"Youaremerebridges:maymenhigherthanyoustrideoveryou.Yousignifysteps:thereforedonotbeangrywithhimwhoclimbsoveryoutohisheight"(283).AccordingtoZarathustra,itisonlysinceGodhasdiedthatmankindcanberesurrected.In`OntheHigherMan,'Zarathustraannouncesthelifeoftheoverman,anindicationofahigherbeingabletoclimboverman.Zarathustraannounces:"Omybrothers,whatIcanloveinmanisthatheisanovertureandagoingunder[...]Overcomethesemastersoftoday,Omybrothers-thesesmallpeople,theyaretheoverman'sgreatestdanger"(287).Humanbeingsmust,inaccordancewiththeirnature,bewillingtogodowninordertogoacross.Theyarethebridgetosomethinghigher.Thethoughtofeternalreturncontainsmanyfacetsandimplications.Onetheonehand,thenotionofeternitywithoutthetrajectoryofagoalandwithoutadefinitiveclosecouldbeviewedastheessenceofnihilismorpessimism.However,thisisnotacompletethoughtofeternalrecurrence.Yetifthethinkerunderstandstherelationbetweennihilismandtheeternalrecurrenceofthesame,hecanfullyaffirmlife. ...more flag 20likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Jan21,2021 Edward ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: philosophy, nonfiction, 2021 ThusSpokeZarathustraisakindofpolemic;anattackleveledatthesacredfoundationsofthephilosophyofitsday.Nietzschefamouslyproclaimsthedeathofgod,andthecorrespondingdeathofreligiousideasasabasisforknowledgeandmorality.Hepointsinsteadtoahumanitydrivenbythewilltopower,towardstheeventualarrivalofa"superman",asthepinnacleofhumandevelopment.Beyondthesemajorthemesthebookitselfisfairlyimpenetrabletotheaveragereader.Itsideasarec ThusSpokeZarathustraisakindofpolemic;anattackleveledatthesacredfoundationsofthephilosophyofitsday.Nietzschefamouslyproclaimsthedeathofgod,andthecorrespondingdeathofreligiousideasasabasisforknowledgeandmorality.Hepointsinsteadtoahumanitydrivenbythewilltopower,towardstheeventualarrivalofa"superman",asthepinnacleofhumandevelopment.Beyondthesemajorthemesthebookitselfisfairlyimpenetrabletotheaveragereader.Itsideasareconveyedintheformofproclamationsoranecdotesonesotericsubjects(examples:onthevirtuous;ofthewayofthecreator;ofthefliesofthemarket-place;oftheafterworldsmen).Usuallythepointisnotclearlymade,butinsteadmustbeinferredandunraveledbycarefulstudy.Thoughnotallofhisideasareentirelyconvincing,whatisapparentfromthisworkisNietzsche'spassionandintelligence.InawayhismannerremindsmeofDostoevsky,inthathewriteslikeamanpossessedbyhisideasandtheconnectionsbetweenthem,ratherthanoneattemptingtopresentanorderly,well-reasonedargument. ...more flag 21likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jan23,2008 VincentFlock ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition ThoughIdoubtthatIcouldreadtheGermanversionaseasilyasIoncecould,Istillmuchpreferittothetranslations.Ifyoumustreadatranslation,makeittheWalterKaufmannversion,whichis,inanycase,easiesttofindbeyondbeingthebestthatIhaveseen.Sidenote:Kaufmann'stranslationofGoethe'sFaustisalsooneofthebestyouwillfindforthatwork.Asfortheworkitself,whatcanIpossiblysaythathasnotalreadybeenwritteninpraiseofthisepic?Thecriticismonem ThoughIdoubtthatIcouldreadtheGermanversionaseasilyasIoncecould,Istillmuchpreferittothetranslations.Ifyoumustreadatranslation,makeittheWalterKaufmannversion,whichis,inanycase,easiesttofindbeyondbeingthebestthatIhaveseen.Sidenote:Kaufmann'stranslationofGoethe'sFaustisalsooneofthebestyouwillfindforthatwork.Asfortheworkitself,whatcanIpossiblysaythathasnotalreadybeenwritteninpraiseofthisepic?Thecriticismonemostoftenhearsofthisworkisthatitisinconsistentinboththemeandnarration.Howthisevercametobeseenasalegitimatecritiqueisbeyondme...theworkiscogentfromstarttofinish,butnotifonereadsitasamanifesto.Zarathustraisnotlayingdownanewreligionfromstarttofinish.Heisdevelopingone,thinkingaloudandlearningfromhisexperiences.Itwouldseemthatreadersexpectthistobeatraditionalpieceofwisdomwritinginwhichthenarratoralreadyhas"alltheanswers"fromthebeginning.Zarathustraisnotapedagogue;Nietzschewouldnotwritesuchapatronizingcharacter.Zarathustra'sreasoningisimperfect,ishuman,andhisjourneyto"enlightenment"ismeanttobethereader'sjourney.Whenreadingthisbook,donotexpectthatitwillprovideyouwithperfectwisdomateverystep.Rather,itshowsthedevelopmentoftheideaoverthecourseofthestory,andwhatwehaveisnotaseriesofcontradictions(assomehavelamelyasserted)butratheravisiblygrowinglight,culminatingwithZarathustra'striumphantcry:'DiesistmeinMorgen!MeinTaghebtan!'Thisismymorning.Mydaybegins!Andsoheleavesthedarkmountainsshininglikethe'MorningSun.' ...more flag 18likes · Like  · seereview «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    PlantMDCBDGummies:Reviews,Benefits,PriceandOfficial 1 2 Jun15,202104:39AM   GoodreadsLibrari...: Pleaseadd/mergebook 1 16 Jan26,202104:43AM   CatchinguponCl...: ThusSpokeZarathustra-Spoilers 89 97 Oct12,201904:39PM   CatchinguponCl...: ThusSpokeZarathustra-Nospoilers 30 99 Aug28,201904:05PM   Zephrofel-MayIncreaseyourStamina 1 13 Aug09,201903:52AM   GoodreadsLibrari...: Combinebooks 3 19 Feb22,201912:20AM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Philosophy 7,264users Classics 1,358users Nonfiction 1,011users EuropeanLiterature> GermanLiterature 320users Literature 220users Religion 142users Literature> 19thCentury 141users Unfinished 135users Psychology 126users Poetry 126users Seetopshelves… AboutFriedrichNietzsche FriedrichNietzsche 18,125 followers FriedrichWilhelmNietzsche(Ph.D.,Philology,LeipzigUniversity,1869)wasaGermanphilosopherofthelate19thcenturywhochallengedthefoundationsofChristianityandtraditionalmorality.Hewasinterestedintheenhancementofindividualandculturalhealth,andbelievedinlife,creativity,power,andtherealitiesoftheworldwelivein,ratherthanthosesituatedinaworldbeyond.Ce FriedrichWilhelmNietzsche(Ph.D.,Philology,LeipzigUniversity,1869)wasaGermanphilosopherofthelate19thcenturywhochallengedthefoundationsofChristianityandtraditionalmorality.Hewasinterestedintheenhancementofindividualandculturalhealth,andbelievedinlife,creativity,power,andtherealitiesoftheworldwelivein,ratherthanthosesituatedinaworldbeyond.Centraltohisphilosophyistheideaof“life-affirmation,”whichinvolvesaquestioningofalldoctrinesthatdrainlife'sexpansiveenergies,howeversociallyprevalentthoseviewsmightbe.OftenreferredtoasoneofthefirstexistentialistphilosophersalongwithSørenKierkegaard(1813–1855).FromtheStanfordEncyclopediaofPhilosophy ...more BooksbyFriedrichNietzsche More… RelatedArticles6GreatBooksHittingShelvesThisWeek Needanotherexcusetotreatyourselftoanewbookthisweek?We'vegotyoucoveredwiththebuzziestnewreleasesoftheday. Tocreateour...Readmore...43likes·1comments TriviaAboutThusSpokeZarath... 8triviaquestions 2quizzes Morequizzes&trivia... Quotesfrom查拉圖斯特拉如是說 “Iamaforest,andanightofdarktrees:buthewhoisnotafraidofmydarkness,willfindbanksfullofrosesundermycypresses.” — 2281likes “Thehigherwesoarthesmallerweappeartothosewhocannotfly.” — 2113likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.