# XVII explained — Thus Spoke Zarathustra

> Chapter companion for Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche.

## What happens

Zarathustra rebukes the world-weary, accusing them of still clinging to earthly desires and pleasures. He insists that true weariness would lead one to embrace the 'death-boat' into nothingness, but instead they remain attached to the earth. He calls for them to be roused with stripes or to pass away, asserting that making an end requires more courage than creating new verses.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Body and the Earth

Zarathustra emphasizes love for the earth and its inventions, contrasting with the false world-weariness of those who still secretly cling to earthly pleasures.

### Will to Power and Creation

The call for courage to make an end rather than create new verses highlights the creative and decisive aspect of the will to power.

## Character check-ins

### Zarathustra

Zarathustra delivers a harsh critique of the world-weary, urging them to either embrace life fully or pass away.

## Key lines

> There standeth the boat—thither goeth it over, perhaps into vast nothingness—but who willeth to enter into this “Perhaps”?

The boat is ready to sail into possible nothingness, but who truly wants to embark on that uncertain journey?

_Zarathustra challenges the world-weary to confront the possibility of annihilation._

> But more courage is needed to make an end than to make a new verse: that do all physicians and poets know well.

Ending something requires greater bravery than creating something new, as doctors and poets understand.

_Zarathustra emphasizes the difficulty and valor in finality over novelty._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-xvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters