For Work / Against Work
Debates on the centrality of work

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

by Nietzsche, Friedrich (2006)

Abstract

Nietzsche regarded 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra' as his most important work, and his story of the wandering Zarathustra has had enormous influence on subsequent culture. Nietzsche uses a mixture of homilies, parables, epigrams and dreams to introduce some of his most striking doctrines, including the Overman, nihilism, and the eternal return of the same. This edition offers a new translation by Adrian Del Caro which restores the original versification of Nietzsche's text and captures its poetic brilliance. Robert Pippin's introduction discusses many of the most important interpretative issues raised by the work, including who is Zarathustra and what kind of 'hero' is he and what is the philosophical significance of the work's literary form? The volume will appeal to all readers interested in one of the most original and inventive works of modern philosophy.

Key Passage

But they want to get free of life; what do they care that they bind others still tighter with their chains and gifts!And you too, for whom life is hectic work and unrest: are you not very weary of life? Are you not very ripe for the sermon of death?All of you who are in love with hectic work and whatever is fast, new, strange – you find it hard to bear yourselves, your diligence is escape and the will to forget yourself.If you believed more in life, you would hurl yourself less into the moment. But you do not have enough content in yourselves for waiting – not even for laziness!  (p.32)

Keywords

Nietzsche, Overman, Eternal Recurrence, Laziness

Themes

Nietzsche Citations

Links to Reference

Translator

Del Caro, A.

Citation

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