Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Thus Spake Zarathustra Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

This had Zarathustra said to his heart when the sun stood at noon-tide. Then he looked inquiringly aloft, - for he heard above him the sharp call of a bird. And behold! An eagle swept through the air in wide circles, and on it hung a serpent, not like a prey, but like a friend: for it kept itself coiled round the eagle's neck."They are my animals," said Zarathustra, and rejoiced in his heart."The proudest animal under the sun, and the wisest animal under the sun, - they have come out to search for me. They want to know whether Zarathustra still lives. Do I still live?I found it more dangerous among men than among animals; Zarathustra walks dangerous paths. Let my animals lead me!When Zarathustra had said this, he remembered the words of the saint in the forest. Then he sighed and spoke thus to his heart: "If only I were wiser! If only I were wise from the very heart, like my serpent!But I am asking the impossible. Therefore I ask my pride to go always with my wisdom!And if my wisdom should some day forsake me: - alas! it loves to fly away!- may my pride then fly with my folly!"Thus began Zarathustra's down-go