Thus Spake Zarathustra (Classics of World Literature)

EDITION: “Thus Spake Zarathustra”, Nietzsche, 1997, Wordsworth Classic Edition, ISBN: 978-1-85326-776-5, paperback.Since I first used Wordsworth edition, they have progressed immeasurably both in terms of the print and paper quality and in the content, especially commentary, i.e. not the original text. This is no exception. Printed on quality paper with an extensive, helpful introduction by Nicholas Davey, Nietzche’s text has received careful treatment, presentation and translation by Thomas Common.“There was it also where I picked up from the path the word ‘Superman’, and that man is something to be surpassed.That man’s is a bridge, not a goal - rejoicing over his noontide's and evenings, as advances to a new rosy dawns - “ (P 192).Although there were times when I would have liked commentary, a guidance, it forced deeper thinking. I recommend the edition, especially at the price a paid. .For anyone wanting to research further, I recommend Leonard Bernstein’s lecture on Richard Strauss’s music, “Thus Spake Zarathrustra’. Although he was talking to a hall and television audience of young people, Bernstein typically deals with the text and music at a high level to advance understanding. Well worth a watch to understand both Nietzsche, Strauss and music.All recommended.

Well, I've not read it yet. However, the condition of the book is great, would recommend. My dad basically forced me to read this book, it's safe to say he's a fan. He's even got a quote from this book tattooed on his ribs so like I guess it's good?? Apparently it's difficult to read though according to my friend but he did say it's also good so like :) But yeah the condition is great. Looks exactly the same :)

I really like this book which I read 20 years ago and did not understood much. At the time, I would have needed "Zarathustra for Dummies", but 20 years down the road it's a bit easier though a very dense book. To read during your summer holidays while you have little else to do. A must read if you are going back to your philosophy classes.

Whatever you think of Nietzsche's philosophy, the level of introspection, breadth of thought and impact of his aphorisms make for an utterly compelling read. If you're new to Nietzsche then The Will to Power is probably a better starting point, Zarathustra may well be his master work though. Don't take my word for it, just read it.

This book is excellent, meant to be read and not simply look pretty on the shelf. You're not paying for a fancy expensive cover or extra quality paper. You're paying for a book to be read. I love this low cost Nietzsche books. (Those who are complaining about the "arcaic" english, this is not the first publication I read like this, seems to me the most correct, and one of the first translations AFAIK).

Not new

Nietzsche had brilliant insight into the practices of religious writings. He demonstrated pseudography by writing his ideas into the mouth of the prophet Zarathustra who is imagined to have lived in ancient Persian times. Some Bible scholars think that this technique was used by Jewish philosophers who placed their ideas into the mouth of Isaiah and Daniel. Bart Ehrman in 'Jesus Interrupted' wonders if extra sayings got added to Jesus sayings.It seems to me that Nietzsche was hiding his revelations among alot of waffle. It takes a bit of scanning to find them. The main pearls he makes arep5 It looks like God is deadp12 There is no devil and no hellp29 Too well do I know those godlike ones, they insist on being believed in, and that doubt is sinp30 Body am I entirely and nothing morep 34 Talking about someone who had committed a crime,'Evermore did he now see himself as the doer of one deed, madness I call this, the exception reversed itself to the rule in himp73 Alas in our body dwelleth still all this delusion, alas much ignorance and error hath become embodied in us. Not only the rationality of millenniums but also their madnessp74 A man of knowledge must be able to love his enemiesp75 Dead are all the Godsp79 Tares want to be called wheatp82 God is a conjecture, God is a thought, it maketh all the straight crooked and all that standeth reelp85 Man has enjoyed himself too little, that is our original sin, all great love surpasseth even forgiveness and pityp93 Oh that ye might become weary of the word 'reward','retribution','punishment','righteous vengeance'p98 and when they call themselves 'the good and just', forget not that for them to be Pharisees nothing is lacking but powerp113 Good and evil which would be everlasting, it doth not existp118 God filched a rib from me with which to make a girl, ye are laughable unto me ye present day men.p126 For all Gods are part symbolisations, poet sophisticationsp138 To transform everything into 'Thus would I have it' that only do I call redemptionp180 Especially did I find those who call themselves good the most poisonous flies, they sting in all innocence, they lie in all innocencep189 With rope-ladders learned I to reach many a window with nimble legs did I climb high masts, to sit on high masts of perception seemed to me no small blissp198 There is much childishness in the old books of wisdom. Such ancient babbling still passeth for 'wisdom' because it is old however and smelleth mustily, therefore is it the more honoured, even mould ennoblethp201 There standeth the boat, thither goeth it over, perhaps into vast nothingness- but who willeth to enter into this 'Perhaps'. None of you want to enter into the death boat. How should ye then be world weary ones, world weary ones, eager did I ever find you for the earth, amorous still of your own earth wearinessp205 Your marriage arranging; see that it be not a bad arranging. Ye have arranged too hastily, so there followeth therefrom -marriage breakingp283 What hath hither to been the greatest sin here on earth, was it not the word of him who said,'woe unto them that laugh now'. Did he himself find no cause for laughter on the earth, then he sought badly. A child even findeth cause for it. He did not love sufficiently otherwise would he also have loved us, the laughing ones. But he hated and hooted us, wailing and gnashing did he promise us

Please read this with an 'open mind'.