brother, if thou wouldst be a star, thou must shine for them none the less on that account!
And be on thy guard against the good and just! They would fain crucify those who devise their own virtue—they hate the lonesome ones.
Be on thy guard, also, against holy simplicity! All is unholy to it that is not simple; fain, likewise, would it play with the fire—of the fagot and the stake.
And be on thy guard, also, against the assaults of thy love! Too readily doth the recluse reach his hand to any one he meeteth him.
To many a one mayest thou not give thy hand, but only thy paw; and I want thy paw to have claws.
But the worst enemy thou canst meet, wilt thou thyself always be; thou waylayeth thyself in caverns and forests.
Thou lonesome one, thou goest the way to thyself! And past thyself and thy seven devils leadeth thy way!
A heretic wilt thou be to thyself, and a wizard and a soothsayer, and a fool, and a doubter, and a reprobate, and a villain.
Ready must thou be to burn thyself in thine own flame; how couldst thou become new if thou have not first become ashes!
Thou lonesome one, thou goest the way of the creating one: a God wilt thou create for thyself out of thy seven devils!
Thou lonesome one, thou goest the way of the loving one: thou lovest thyself, and on that account you despisest thyself, as only the loving ones despise.
To create, desireth the loving one, because he despiseth! What knoweth he of love who hath not bee obliged to despise just what he loved!
With thy love, go into thine isolation, my brother ,and with thy creating; and late only will justice limp after thee.
