OF DELIGHTS AND PASSIONS 43
My brother, are warfare and battle evil? But necessary is this evil, necessary are envy and mistrust and backbiting among thy virtues.
Behold, how each of thy virtues is covetous for the highest: it longeth for thy whole spirit to be its herald, it longeth for thy whole power in wrath, love and hatred.
Jealous is each virtue of the other, and a terrible thing is jealousy. Even virtues may perish from jealousy.
He who is encompassed by the flame of jealousy, at last, like the scorpion, turneth the poisonous sting towards himself.
Alas, my brother, didst thou never see a virtue backbite and stab itself ?
Man is a something that must be surpassed : and therefore thou shalt love thy virtues : for thou wilt perish from them."
Thus spake Zarathustra.
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