II. The Academic Chairs of Virtue

People commended unto Zarathustra a wise man, as one who could discourse well about sleep and virtue: greatly was he honoured and rewarded for it, and all the youths sat before his chair. To him went Zarathustra, and…

A wise man is praised for discoursing on sleep and virtue, and the youths sit before his chair. Zarathustra goes and sits among them.

Respect and modesty in presence of sleep! That is the first thing! And to go out of the way of all who sleep badly and keep awake at night! Modest is even the thief in presence of sleep: he always stealeth softly…

The wise man lays out rules for sleeping well: ten overcomings, reconciliations, truths and laughters a day, peace with God, neighbour and government. He ends by dozing off in his own chair.

And even if one have all the virtues, there is still one thing needful: to send the virtues themselves to sleep at the right time.

The wise man says that even the virtues must be put to sleep so that they do not quarrel.

When Zarathustra heard the wise man thus speak, he laughed in his heart: for thereby had a light dawned upon him. And thus spake he to his heart: A fool seemeth this wise man with his forty thoughts: but I believe he…

Zarathustra laughs in his heart and judges the man a fool who yet knows how to sleep. He concludes that people formerly sought teachers of virtue only for good sleep.

Even at present, to be sure, there are some like this preacher of virtue, and not always so honourable: but their time is past.

Zarathustra says such teachers still exist but will soon nod off for good, and he blesses their drowsiness.