XXV. The Pitiful

My friends, there hath arisen a satire on your friend: “Behold Zarathustra! Walketh he not amongst us as if amongst animals?” But it is better said in this wise: “The discerning one walketh amongst men AS amongst…

Zarathustra answers a satire on himself: the discerning one walks among men as among animals, since man has had to be ashamed so often. The noble man spares sufferers shame, dislikes the merciful, and prefers pity at a distance, hooded and unrecognised.

Verily, I have done this and that for the afflicted: but something better did I always seem to do when I had learned to enjoy myself better. Since humanity came into being, man hath enjoyed himself too little: that…

Zarathustra explains why his help to the afflicted shamed them, and how great obligations breed revenge and small kindnesses become gnawing worms. He advises receiving with reserve, gives to friends, lets others pluck from his tree, and would abolish beggars.

Since humanity came into being, man hath enjoyed himself too little: that alone, my brethren, is our original sin!

Zarathustra names humanity's original sin as too little joy; by enjoying ourselves more we unlearn inflicting pain.

better to have done evilly than to have thought pettily!

The evil deed is like a boil that breaks out and speaks honourably, while the petty thought is a hidden infection that decays the whole body. To the man possessed by a devil he says to rear up the devil and so find a path to greatness.

Thus speaketh all great love: it surpasseth even forgiveness and pity.

Living among men is hard because silence is hard. For a suffering friend be a hard camp-bed, and to a friend who wrongs you say you cannot forgive the wrong he did to himself.

One should hold fast one’s heart; for when one letteth it go, how quickly doth one’s head run away! Ah, where in the world have there been greater follies than with the pitiful? And what in the world hath caused more…

Nothing has caused more suffering than the follies of the pitiful, and loving ones need an elevation above their pity. The devil's saying that God is dead of pity for man is a warning of a heavy cloud.

All great love is above all its pity: for it seeketh—to create what is loved!

Zarathustra ends by placing creative love above pity; the creator offers himself and his neighbour alike, and so is hard.