Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/154

 I2O THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, II

Would that my fate would always lead across my path such as are free from sorrow like you, and such as those with whom I may share hope and meal and honey.

Verily, now and then I did something for sufferers, but I always seemed unto myself to do something better when I learned how to enjoy myself better.

Since man came into existence he hath had too little joy. That alone, my brethren, is our original sin !

And when we learn how to have more joy we best get disaccustomed to cause pain and to invent pain unto others.

Therefore I wash my hand which helped the sufferer : therefore I even wipe my soul.

For on account of the sufferer's shame I was ashamed, when seeing him suffer; and when I helped him, I strongly offended his pride.

Great obligations do not make grateful but revenge- ful ; and when a small benefit is not forgotten it turneth into a gnawing worm.

' Be shy of accepting ! Distinguish by accepting ! ' Thus I counsel those who have nothing to give away.

But I am a giver : willingly I give, as a friend unto friends. But strangers and paupers may themselves pluck the fruit from my tree : thus it causeth less shame.

Beggars should be abolished utterly ! Verily, we are angry when giving them anything and are angry when not giving.

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