And when you take, then is it like stealing, you small virtuous ones; but even among knaves honor says that "one shall only steal when one cannot rob."
"It gives itself"- that is also a doctrine of submission. But I say to you, you comfortable ones, that it takes to itself, and will ever take more and more from you!
Ah, that you would renounce all half-willing, and would decide for idleness as you decide for action!
Ah, that you understood my word: "Do ever what you will- but first be such as can will.
Love ever your neighbor as yourselves- but first be such as love themselves-
-Such as love with great love, such as love with great contempt!" Thus speaks Zarathustra the godless.-
But why talk I, when no one has my ears! It is still an hour too early for me here.
My own forerunner am I among this people, my own cockcrow in dark lanes.
But their hour comes! And there comes also mine! Hourly do they become smaller, poorer, unfruitfuller,- poor herbs! poor earth!
And soon shall they stand before me like dry grass and prairie, and verily, weary of themselves- and panting for fire, more than for water!
O blessed hour of the lightning! O mystery before noontide!- Running fires will I one day make of them, and heralds with flaming tongues:-
-Herald shall they one day with flaming tongues: It comes, it is nigh, the great noontide!
Thus spoke Zarathustra.
