Of Life and Love
What have we in common with the rosebud, which trembles because a drop of dew is lying upon it?
It is true: we love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.
There is always a certain madness in love. But also there is always a certain method in madness.
And to me too, who love life, it seems that butterflies and soap-bubbles, and whatever is like them among men, know most about happiness.
To see these light, foolish, dainty, affecting little souls flutter about – that moves Zarathustra to tears and to song.
I should believe only in a God who understood how to dance.

Of War and Warriors
We do not wish to be spared by our best enemies, nor by those whom we love from the very heart. So let me tell you the truth!
My brothers in war! I love you from the very heart, I am and have always been of your kind. And I am also your best enemy. So let me tell you the truth!…
You should be such men as are always looking for an enemy – for your enemy. And with some of you there is hate at first sight.
You should seek your enemy, you should wage your war – a war for your opinions. And if your opinion is defeated, your honesty should still cry triumph over that!
You should love peace as a means to new wars. And the short peace more than the long.
I do not exhort you to work but to battle. I do not exhort you to peace, but to victory. May your work be a battle, may your peace be a victory!
One can be silent and sit still only when one has arrow and bow; otherwise one babbles and quarrels. May your peace be a victory!
You say it is the good cause that hallows even war? I tell you: it is the good war that hallows every cause.
War and courage have done more great things than charity. Not your pity but your bravery has saved the unfortunate up to now….
Thus live your life of obedience and war! What good is long life? What warrior wants to be spared?

…Thus spake Zarathustra.

Zarathustra is a lover of life, and without any conditions. His approach to life is unique to himself. And because it is so unique it has to be understood very silently, without any prejudice, because he is speaking against all your prejudices; he is speaking against all your religions; he is speaking against all the values that you have thought are great.

When somebody speaks against everything that you have believed in, your mind stops listening; it becomes afraid, it closes, it becomes defensive. It is afraid; perhaps you have been wrong, and perhaps the man who is speaking against you may be right – it hurts your ego.

So the first thing I want to say to you is: Put your prejudices aside. That does not mean that you have to agree with Zarathustra; that simply means, before any agreement or disagreement give him a chance to make his standpoint clear to you. Then it is your freedom to accept him or not to accept him.

My own experience is that if you can listen to him silently, you will be amazed that although he is speaking against all your traditions, all your conventions, all your so-called great teachers, still, he has some tremendous truth in whatever he is saying. And that truth will be revealed in your silence, without any difficulty.