Existentialism
Friedrich Nietzsche
(1844 - 1900)
|
A
sublime one saw I today, a solemn one, a penitent of the
spirit: Oh, how my soul laughed at his ugliness! (thus
spake zarathustra) |
18.Old
and Young Women
WHY stealest thou along so furtively in
the twilight, Zarathustra? And what hidest thou so carefully under thy
mantle?
Is it a treasure that hath been given thee?
Or a child that hath been born thee? Or goest thou thyself on a thief's
errand, thou friend of the evil?Verily, my brother, said Zarathustra,
it is a treasure that hath been given me: it is a little truth which I
carry.
But it is naughty, like a young child;
and if I hold not its mouth, it screameth too loudly.
As I went on my way alone today, at the
hour when the sun declineth, there met me an old woman, and she spake
thus unto my soul:
"Much hath Zarathustra spoken also
to us women, but never spake he unto us concerning woman."
And I answered her: "Concerning woman,
one should only talk unto men."
"Talk also unto me of woman,"
said she; "I am old enough to forget it presently."
And I obliged the old woman and spake thus
unto her:
Everything in woman is a riddle, and everything
in woman hath one solution- it is called pregnancy.
Man is for woman a means: the purpose is
always the child. But what is woman for man?
Two different things wanteth the true man:
danger and diversion. Therefore wanteth he woman, as the most dangerous
plaything.
Man shall be trained for war, and woman
for the recreation of the warrior: all else is folly.
Too sweet fruits- these the warrior liketh
not. Therefore liketh he woman;- bitter is even the sweetest woman.
Better than man doth woman understand children,
but man is more childish than woman.
In the true man there is a child hidden:
it wanteth to play. Up then, ye women, and discover the child in man!
A plaything let woman be, pure and fine
like the precious stone, illumined with the virtues of a world not yet
come.
Let the beam of a star shine in your love!
Let your hope say: "May I bear the Superman!"
In your love let there be valour! With
your love shall ye assail him who inspireth you with fear!
In your love be your honour! Little doth
woman understand otherwise about honour. But let this be your honour:
always to love more than ye are loved, and never be the second.
Let man fear woman when she loveth: then
maketh she every sacrifice, and everything else she regardeth as worthless.
Let man fear woman when she hateth: for
man in his innermost soul is merely evil; woman, however, is mean.
Whom hateth woman most?- Thus spake the
iron to the loadstone: "I hate thee most, because thou attractest,
but art too weak to draw unto thee."
The happiness of man is, "I will."
The happiness of woman is, "He will."
"Lo! "Lo! now hath the world
become perfect!"- thus thinketh every woman when she obeyeth with
all her love.
Obey, must the woman, and find a depth
for her surface. Surface is woman's soul, a mobile, stormy film on shallow
water.
Man's soul, however, is deep, its current
gusheth in subterranean caverns: woman surmiseth its force, but comprehendeth
it not.Then answered me the old woman: "Many fine things hath Zarathustra
said, especially for those who are young enough for them.
Strange! Zarathustra knoweth little about
woman, and yet he is right about them! Doth this happen, because with
women nothing is impossible?
And now accept a little truth by way of
thanks! I am old enough for it!
Swaddle it up and hold its mouth: otherwise
it will scream too loudly, the little truth."
"Give me, woman, thy little truth!"
said I. And thus spake the old woman:
"Thou goest to women? Do not forget
thy whip!"Thus spake Zarathustra.
Ce
qu'on fait n'est jamais compris mais seulement loué ou blâmé.
Nietzsche, Gay Science |
