Thus Spoke Zarathustra · Chapter
VII explained
Zarathustra proclaims that truth is rare and cannot be spoken by the 'good,' who are obedient and self-denying.
What happens
Zarathustra proclaims that truth is rare and cannot be spoken by the 'good,' who are obedient and self-denying. He argues that true knowledge arises from evil, daring, distrust, and cruelty, and calls on the discerning to break the old tablets of morality.
Themes in this chapter
Critique of Herd Morality
Zarathustra attacks the 'good' as obedient and untruthful, asserting that truth requires evil and transgression.
Death of God and Revaluation of Values
The call to break the old tables reflects the need to revalue all values in the absence of divine authority.
Characters to notice
- Zarathustra
Speaker of the chapter, addressing his brethren and calling for the destruction of old moral tables.
- The Higher Men
Implied audience as 'discerning ones' who are urged to break the old tables.
Key passages
“To be true—that can few be! And he who can, will not! Least of all, however, can the good be true.”
Very few people are capable of being truthful, and those who are capable often refuse. The so-called 'good' are the least truthful of all.
Zarathustra's opening attack on the moral hypocrisy of the good.
“All that is called evil by the good, must come together in order that one truth may be born.”
Truth can only be born from the convergence of everything that the good label as evil.
The paradoxical necessity of evil for the generation of truth.
“Break up, break up, ye discerning ones, the old tables!”
You who are wise, shatter the ancient tablets of morality!
A direct call to the higher men to destroy traditional moral codes.