OF THE NEW IDOL 65
They all strive towards the throne : that is their madness, as though happiness were sitting on the throne ! Often mud sitteth on the throne ; often also the throne sitteth on the mud.
Madmen they are all to my mind, and climbing apes, and over-hot. Ill smelleth to me their idol, that cold monster: ill smell they all to me, these idolaters.
My brethren, will ye be suffocated in the damp of their mouths and desires ! Rather break the windows and jump into the open air !
Go, I pray, out of the way of the evil odour. Go away from the idolatry of the superfluous.
Go, I pray, out of the way of the evil odour. Go away from the steam of these human sacrifices !
For great souls earth is yet open. For hermits, and hermits in pairs, many seats are yet empty round which floateth the odour of calm seas.
For great souls a free life is still open. Verily, he who possesseth little is possessed still less : a modest poverty be praised !
Where the state ceaseth there beginneth that man who is not superfluous : there beginneth the song of the necessary, the melody that is sung once and can- not be replaced.
Where the state ceaseth look there, I pray, my brethren ! Do you not see it, the rainbow and the bridges of beyond-man ? "
Thus spake Zarathustra.
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