XLIX. The Bedwarfing Virtue

When Zarathustra was again on the continent, he did not go straightway to his mountains and his cave, but made many wanderings and questionings, and ascertained this and that; so that he said of himself jestingly: “Lo,…

Returning to the continent, Zarathustra wanders to learn whether men have become greater or smaller. He sees small houses and low doorways, sighs that he must stoop, and gives his discourse the same day.

I pass through this people and keep mine eyes open: they do not forgive me for not envying their virtues. They bite at me, because I say unto them that for small people, small virtues are necessary—and because it is…

Zarathustra describes how the small people bite at him, gossip about him, shield their children from his eyes and offer him a prickly praise. He stays courteous to them as to small annoyances.

I pass through this people and keep mine eyes open; they have become SMALLER, and ever become smaller:—THE REASON THEREOF IS THEIR DOCTRINE OF HAPPINESS AND VIRTUE.

Zarathustra gives the cause of the shrinking: the small people's own doctrine of happiness and virtue.

For they are moderate also in virtue,—because they want comfort. With comfort, however, moderate virtue only is compatible. To be sure, they also learn in their way to stride on and stride forward: that, I call their…

Zarathustra lists their faults: hobbling progress, acting, hypocritical rulers who claim to serve, and a modest pursuit of small happiness. He calls their so-called virtue cowardice and their moderation mediocrity.

And when I call out: “Curse all the cowardly devils in you, that would fain whimper and fold the hands and adore”—then do they shout: “Zarathustra is godless.” And especially do their teachers of submission shout…

When he curses the cowardly devils that whimper and adore, the teachers of submission cry that he is godless. He answers 'I am Zarathustra the godless', and says that chance must bow to his will.

Ye ever become smaller, ye small people! Ye crumble away, ye comfortable ones! Ye will yet perish— —By your many small virtues, by your many small omissions, and by your many small submissions! Too tender, too yielding:…

He cries to the winds that the small ones crumble away. A great tree needs hard roots around hard rocks, and even their omissions weave the future.

Ah, that ye understood my word: “Do ever what ye will—but first be such as CAN WILL.

Zarathustra's maxim: do what you will, but first become able to will.

Love ever your neighbour as yourselves—but first be such as LOVE THEMSELVES— —Such as love with great love, such as love with great contempt!” Thus speaketh Zarathustra the godless.—

He bids them love their neighbour as themselves, but first to be such as love themselves, with great love and great contempt.

But why talk I, when no one hath MINE ears! It is still an hour too early for me here. Mine own forerunner am I among this people, mine own cockcrow in dark lanes. But THEIR hour cometh! And there cometh also mine!…

He says it is still an hour too early for him. He foretells that they will stand weary like dry grass, panting for fire, and he will turn them into heralds of the great noontide.