Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/45

 ZARATHUSTRA S INTRODUCTORY SPEECH 1 1

they name it; it distinguishes them from the goat- herds.

Wherefore they like not to hear the word contempt used of themselves. Thus I am going to speak unto their pride.

Thus I am going to speak unto them of the most contemptible : that is of the last man,"

And thus Zarathustra spake unto the folk :

" It is time for man to mark out his goal. It is time for man to plant the germ of his highest hope.

His soil is still rich enough for that purpose. But one day that soil will be impoverished and tame, no high tree being any longer able to grow from it.

Alas ! the time cometh when man will no longer throw the arrow of his longing beyond man and the string of his bow will have lost the cunning to whizz !

I tell you : one must have chaos within to enable one to give birth to a dancing star. I tell you : ye have still got chaos within.

Alas ! the time cometh when man will no longer give birth to any star ! Alas ! There cometh the time of the most contemptible man who can no longer despise himself.

Behold ! I show you the last man.

' What is love ? What is creation ? What is long- ing ? What is star ? ' thus the last man asketh blinking.

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