7 of 7 in Chapter XLIV. THE STILLEST HOUR308 of 593 in work
Solitude's Ripening
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thus Spake Zarathustra

A vision of necessary withdrawal, suggesting that even when one's work is ready, the creator must return to solitude to reach their own personal maturity.

...again spoken unto me without voice: “Thou must yet become a child, and be without shame. The pride of youth is still upon thee; late hast thou become young: but he who would become a child must surmount even his youth.”— And I considered a long while, and trembled. At last, however, did I say what I had said at first. “I will not.” Then did a laughing take place all around me. Alas, how that laughing lacerated my bowels and cut into my heart! And there was spoken unto me for the last time:
“O Zarathustra, thy fruits are ripe, but thou art not ripe for thy fruits! So must thou go again into solitude: for thou shalt yet become mellow.”
— And again was there a laughing, and it fled: then did it become still around me, as with a double stillness. I lay, however, on the ground, and the sweat flowed from my limbs. —Now have ye heard all, and why I have to return into my solitude. Nothing have I kept hidden from you, my friends. But even this have ye heard from me, WHO is still the most reserved of men—and will be so! Ah, my friends! I should have something more to say unto you! I should have something more to give unto you! W...
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1 of 8 in Chapter XLV. THE WANDERER309 of 593 in work
Now entering Chapter XLV. THE WANDERER
The Final Ascent
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thus Spake Zarathustra

A confession of the solitary nature of the philosophical journey, where the wanderer realizes that all experiences are ultimately encounters with the self. The author prepares to ascend his 'hardest path,' viewing fate as the return of his own long-scattered essence.

...went his way over the ridge of the isle, that he might arrive early in the morning at the other coast; because there he meant to embark. For there was a good roadstead there, in which foreign ships also liked to anchor: those ships took many people with them, who wished to cross over from the Happy Isles. So when Zarathustra thus ascended the mountain, he thought on the way of his many solitary wanderings from youth onwards, and how many mountains and ridges and summits he had already climbed.
I am a wanderer and mountain-climber, said he to his heart, I love not the plains, and it seemeth I cannot long sit still. And whatever may still overtake me as fate and experience—a wandering will be therein, and a mountain-climbing: in the end one experienceth only oneself. The time is now past when accidents could befall me; and what COULD now fall to my lot which would not already be mine own! It returneth only, it cometh home to me at last—mine own Self, and such of it as hath been long abroad, and scattered among things and accidents. And one thing more do I know: I stand now before my last summit, and before that which hath been…
He, however, who is of my nature doth not avoid such an hour: the hour that saith unto him: Now only dost thou go the way to thy greatness! Summit and abyss—these are now comprised together! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: now hath it become thy last refuge, what was hitherto thy last danger! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: it must now be thy best courage that there is no longer any path behind thee! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: here shall no one steal after thee! Thy foot...
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2 of 8 in Chapter XLV. THE WANDERER310 of 593 in work
The Path to Greatness
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thus Spake Zarathustra

The author describes the solitary journey toward greatness as a path of no return where one must find the courage to transcend their own heart and limitations, even if it requires turning one's gentleness into hardness.

...experienceth only oneself. The time is now past when accidents could befall me; and what COULD now fall to my lot which would not already be mine own! It returneth only, it cometh home to me at last—mine own Self, and such of it as hath been long abroad, and scattered among things and accidents. And one thing more do I know: I stand now before my last summit, and before that which hath been longest reserved for me. Ah, my hardest path must I ascend! Ah, I have begun my lonesomest wandering!
He, however, who is of my nature doth not avoid such an hour: the hour that saith unto him: Now only dost thou go the way to thy greatness! Summit and abyss—these are now comprised together! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: now hath it become thy last refuge, what was hitherto thy last danger! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: it must now be thy best courage that there is no longer any path behind thee! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: here shall no one steal after thee! Thy foot itself hath effaced the path behind thee, and over it standeth written: Impossibility. And if all ladders henceforth fail thee, then must thou learn to…
He who hath always much-indulged himself, sickeneth at last by his much-indulgence. Praises on what maketh hardy! I do not praise the land where butter and honey—flow! To learn TO LOOK AWAY FROM oneself, is necessary in order to see MANY THINGS:—this hardiness is needed by every mountain-climber. He, however, who is obtrusive with his eyes as a discerner, how can he ever see more of anything than its foreground! But thou, O Zarathustra, wouldst view the ground of everything, and its backgro...
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3 of 8 in Chapter XLV. THE WANDERER311 of 593 in work
Mount Upon Your Head
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thus Spake Zarathustra

The author prescribes a path of radical self-reliance and hardship, arguing that one must overcome their own heart and comfort to ascend to higher states of being.

...him: Now only dost thou go the way to thy greatness! Summit and abyss—these are now comprised together! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: now hath it become thy last refuge, what was hitherto thy last danger! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: it must now be thy best courage that there is no longer any path behind thee! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: here shall no one steal after thee! Thy foot itself hath effaced the path behind thee, and over it standeth written: Impossibility.
And if all ladders henceforth fail thee, then must thou learn to mount upon thine own head: how couldst thou mount upward otherwise? Upon thine own head, and beyond thine own heart! Now must the gentlest in thee become the hardest. He who hath always much-indulged himself, sickeneth at last by his much-indulgence. Praises on what maketh hardy! I do not praise the land where butter and honey—flow!
To learn TO LOOK AWAY FROM oneself, is necessary in order to see MANY THINGS:—this hardiness is needed by every mountain-climber. He, however, who is obtrusive with his eyes as a discerner, how can he ever see more of anything than its foreground! But thou, O Zarathustra, wouldst view the ground of everything, and its background: thus must thou mount even above thyself—up, upwards, until thou hast even thy stars UNDER thee! Yea! To look down upon myself, and even upon my stars: that only wo...
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4 of 8 in Chapter XLV. THE WANDERER312 of 593 in work
Look Away to See
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thus Spake Zarathustra

A prescription for self-transcendence, arguing that one must learn to look away from oneself and endure hardship to gain a higher perspective on reality.

...o thy greatness: it must now be thy best courage that there is no longer any path behind thee! Thou goest the way to thy greatness: here shall no one steal after thee! Thy foot itself hath effaced the path behind thee, and over it standeth written: Impossibility. And if all ladders henceforth fail thee, then must thou learn to mount upon thine own head: how couldst thou mount upward otherwise? Upon thine own head, and beyond thine own heart! Now must the gentlest in thee become the hardest.
He who hath always much-indulged himself, sickeneth at last by his much-indulgence. Praises on what maketh hardy! I do not praise the land where butter and honey—flow! To learn TO LOOK AWAY FROM oneself, is necessary in order to see MANY THINGS:—this hardiness is needed by every mountain-climber. He, however, who is obtrusive with his eyes as a discerner, how can he ever see more of anything than its foreground! But thou, O Zarathustra, wouldst view the ground of everything, and its background: thus must thou mount even above thyself—up, upwards, until thou hast even thy stars UNDER thee!
Yea! To look down upon myself, and even upon my stars: that only would I call my SUMMIT, that hath remained for me as my LAST summit!— Thus spake Zarathustra to himself while ascending, comforting his heart with harsh maxims: for he was sore at heart as he had never been before. And when he had reached the top of the mountain-ridge, behold, there lay the other sea spread out before him: and he stood still and was long silent. The night, however, was cold at this height, and clear and starry....
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