The Preachers of Death — Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Zarathustra says the earth is full of preachers of death. These are people who teach others to back away from life. Some carry a beast of prey inside and hurt themselves or others. Some are spiritually sick from birth and long for rest and renunciation. They see an old man or a corpse and shout that life is refuted. Really, only their narrow eyes are refuted.

Others cling to little pleasures and mock themselves for clinging. Some preach that life is only suffering and tell you to end it. Some call lust sin and refuse to have children. Some use pity as a chain, giving themselves away so life will bind them less.

Hard workers who love struggle can also grow tired and ripe for death sermons. Zarathustra warns that eternal life talk can work the same way if it helps people flee this world. He wants the living to stay alive and watch who is draining their hope. They grasp sweetmeats and mock their own childish clinging. Some preach suicide as virtue. Zarathustra says beware of waking the dead or damaging living coffins. Busy people who cannot wait or even idle may also be fleeing from life instead of living it.