The Bestowing Virtue — Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Zarathustra leaves the Pied Cow with disciples who follow him to a crossroad. They give him a staff: a serpent twined round the sun. He teaches that gold became precious because it gives itself freely, like the highest virtue.

There is healthy selfishness that overflows and bestows, and sick selfishness that steals because it is empty. Names of good and evil are only hints. When your spirit speaks in images, that is where virtue begins. Remain true to the earth. Let your love and knowledge give human meaning to the world.

Then his voice changes. He tells them to leave him, guard against him, even be ashamed of him. Find yourselves; deny him; then he will return. Dead are all the gods: now desire the Superman to live. That is his final will at the great noontide. Fight for new values on earth. Physician, heal yourself. A thousand untrodden paths remain. Lonesome seceders will become a chosen people. The earth shall become a place of healing. Do not remain scholars. Pluck at his wreath. Beware the statue of veneration crushing you. Spirit and virtue flew away too often; bring them back to body and life. Out of you who chose yourselves shall the Superman arise.