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First Part · IX. The Preachers of Death

Preachers of chastity, birth-refusal, and pity

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“Lust is sin,”—so say some who preach death—“let us go apart and beget no children!”

“Giving birth is troublesome,”—say others—“why still give birth? One beareth only the unfortunate!” And they also are preachers of death.

“Pity is necessary,”—so saith a third party. “Take what I have! Take what I am! So much less doth life bind me!”

Were they consistently pitiful, then would they make their neighbours sick of life. To be wicked—that would be their true goodness.

But they want to be rid of life; what care they if they bind others still faster with their chains and gifts!—

Zarathustra lists those who condemn lust and childbearing and those who preach pity. If the pitiful were consistent they would make their neighbours sick of life; their true goodness would be to be wicked.