A prelude am I to better players, O my brothers! An example! Do according to my example!
And him whom you do not teach to fly, teach I pray you- to fall faster!-
21.
I love the brave: but it is not enough to be a swordsman,- one must also know whereon to use swordsmanship!
And often is it greater bravery to keep quiet and pass by, that thereby one may reserve oneself for a worthier foe!
You shall only have foes to be hated; but not foes to be despised: you must be proud of your foes. Thus have I already taught.
For the worthier foe, O my brothers, shall you reserve yourselves: therefore must you pass by many a one,-
-Especially many of the rabble, who din your ears with noise about people and peoples.
Keep your eye clear of their For and Against! There is there much right, much wrong: he who looks on becomes wroth.
Therein viewing, therein hewing- they are the same thing: therefore depart into the forests and lay your sword to sleep!
Go your ways! and let the people and peoples go theirs!- gloomy ways, verily, on which not a single hope glints any more!
Let there the trader rule, where all that still glitters is- traders' gold. It is the time of kings no longer: that which now calls itself the people is unworthy of kings.
See how these peoples themselves now do just like the traders: they pick up the small advantage out of all kinds of rubbish!
