Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/476

 44 2 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV

Ye long after the evilest, most dangerous life, that causeth me the most fear, after the life of wild beasts, after forests, caves, steep mountains and labyrinthine abysses.

And ye are not pleased best by those who lead you out of a danger, but by those who lead you away from all paths, by seducers. But if such a longing is truth in you, it nevertheless seemeth unto me impossible.

For fear that is man's hereditary and fundamental feeling. By fear everything is explained, original sin and original virtue. Out of fear also hath grown my virtue, which is called Science.

For the fear of wild beasts hath been bred in man for the longest time, including the beast he con- taineth and feareth in himself. Zarathustra calleth it 'the beast inside.'

Such long, old fear, at last become refined, spiritual, intellectual, to-day, methinketh, it is called Science"

Thus spake the conscientious one. But Zarathustra who had just returned into his cave and had heard the last speech and guessed its sense, threw a hand- ful of roses at the conscientious one, laughing at his "truths." "What?" he called. "What did I hear just now? Verily, methinketh, thou art a fool, or I am one myself. And thy 'truth' I turn upside down with one blow, and that quickly.

For fear is our exception. But courage and ad-

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