Summary
Zarathustra tells his followers a strange parable about falling asleep under a fig tree and being bitten by an adder. Instead of killing the snake or fleeing, he thanks it for waking him up and even lets it lick his wound clean. When his disciples ask for the moral of this story, Zarathustra launches into a radical challenge to conventional morality. He argues against the Christian ideal of turning the other cheek, suggesting instead that we should respond to enemies with honest anger rather than false kindness. He proposes that shared injustice is better than isolated suffering - that spreading small wrongs around is more human than letting one person bear a great injustice alone. Most provocatively, he attacks what he calls 'cold justice' - the mechanical application of rules without love or understanding. True justice, he suggests, should come from the heart and include compassion even for wrongdoers. This chapter reveals Zarathustra as someone who rejects both passive acceptance of harm and rigid moral systems. He's searching for a middle path that acknowledges human complexity - one that allows for anger, revenge, and even strategic wrongdoing when it serves a greater good. The adder story becomes a metaphor for finding unexpected gifts in painful experiences, and for treating even our enemies with a strange kind of respect.
Coming Up in Chapter 20
Zarathustra prepares to ask his most probing question yet - one designed to sound the very depths of the human soul. What he discovers may challenge everything his followers think they know about themselves.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
One day had Zarathustra fallen asleep under a fig-tree, owing to the heat, with his arms over his face. And there came an adder and bit him in the neck, so that Zarathustra screamed with pain. When he had taken his arm from his face he looked at the serpent; and then did it recognise the eyes of Zarathustra, wriggled awkwardly, and tried to get away. “Not at all,” said Zarathustra, “as yet hast thou not received my thanks! Thou hast awakened me in time; my journey is yet long.” “Thy journey is short,” said the adder sadly; “my poison is fatal.” Zarathustra smiled. “When did ever a dragon die of a serpent’s poison?”—said he. “But take thy poison back! Thou art not rich enough to present it to me.” Then fell the adder again on his neck, and licked his wound. When Zarathustra once told this to his disciples they asked him: “And what, O Zarathustra, is the moral of thy story?” And Zarathustra answered them thus: The destroyer of morality, the good and just call me: my story is immoral. When, however, ye have an enemy, then return him not good for evil: for that would abash him. But prove that he hath done something good to you. And rather be angry than abash any one! And when ye are cursed, it pleaseth me not that ye should then desire to bless. Rather curse a little also! And should a great injustice befall you, then do quickly five small ones besides. Hideous to behold is he on whom injustice presseth alone. Did ye ever know this? Shared injustice is half justice. And he who can bear it, shall take the injustice upon himself! A small revenge is humaner than no revenge at all. And if the punishment be not also a right and an honour to the transgressor, I do not like your punishing. Nobler is it to own oneself in the wrong than to establish one’s right, especially if one be in the right. Only, one must be rich enough to do so. I do not like your cold justice; out of the eye of your judges there always glanceth the executioner and his cold steel. Tell me: where find we justice, which is love with seeing eyes? Devise me, then, the love which not only beareth all punishment, but also all guilt! Devise me, then, the justice which acquitteth every one except the judge! And would ye hear this likewise? To him who seeketh to be just from the heart, even the lie becometh philanthropy. But how could I be just from the heart! How can I give every one his own! Let this be enough for me: I give unto every one mine own. Finally, my brethren, guard against doing wrong to any anchorite. How could an anchorite forget! How could he requite! Like a deep well is an anchorite. Easy is it to throw in a stone: if it should sink to the bottom,...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Strategic Compassion
The ability to respond to harm with neither passive acceptance nor destructive retaliation, but with intelligent action that serves your larger purpose.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to pause between being wronged and responding, choosing actions that serve your long-term goals rather than immediate emotions.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone triggers your anger or hurt, and practice asking 'What response serves my actual goals here?' before reacting.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Parable
A simple story that teaches a deeper lesson about life or morality. Nietzsche uses the adder story to challenge traditional ideas about how we should treat enemies and respond to harm.
Modern Usage:
We still use parables today in motivational speeches, therapy, and even memes that tell a story to make a point.
Moral relativism
The idea that right and wrong aren't fixed rules but depend on the situation. Zarathustra argues against universal moral commands like 'always turn the other cheek.'
Modern Usage:
We see this in debates about whether lying is always wrong, or if breaking rules is okay when they're unfair.
Cold justice
Applying rules mechanically without considering human feelings or circumstances. Nietzsche criticizes judges who follow the law without compassion or understanding.
Modern Usage:
Think of zero-tolerance policies in schools or workplaces that punish everyone the same way regardless of context.
Turning the other cheek
The Christian teaching to respond to harm with kindness rather than revenge. Zarathustra argues this can be dishonest and humiliating to both parties.
Modern Usage:
We still debate whether being 'the bigger person' is always the right response to bullying or mistreatment.
Immoralist
Someone who rejects conventional moral rules, not because they're evil but because they think morality is more complex than simple commands.
Modern Usage:
Today we might call someone an immoralist for questioning whether all laws are just or all social rules make sense.
Shared injustice
Nietzsche's controversial idea that it's better to spread small wrongs around than let one person suffer a great injustice alone.
Modern Usage:
We see this when groups split costs or consequences rather than letting one person take all the blame or burden.
Characters in This Chapter
Zarathustra
Philosophical teacher
He tells the adder story and uses it to challenge his followers' assumptions about morality. He presents himself as someone who rejects conventional good and evil.
Modern Equivalent:
The unconventional mentor who makes you question everything you thought you knew
The adder
Symbolic antagonist
The snake that bites Zarathustra represents unexpected challenges or enemies. Instead of being evil, it becomes a teacher that wakes him up.
Modern Equivalent:
The difficult coworker or situation that actually helps you grow
The disciples
Students/followers
They ask for the moral of Zarathustra's story, representing people who want simple answers to complex questions about right and wrong.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who always asks 'So what's the lesson here?' after you tell them about your problems
Key Quotes & Analysis
"When did ever a dragon die of a serpent's poison?"
Context: When the adder warns that its bite is fatal
Zarathustra sees himself as too powerful to be destroyed by small attacks. This reveals his confidence and suggests that strong people can transform even harmful experiences into something useful.
In Today's Words:
I'm tougher than you think - your worst shot won't take me down.
"The destroyer of morality, the good and just call me: my story is immoral."
Context: Explaining why conventional people see him as dangerous
He acknowledges that challenging moral rules makes people uncomfortable. He's not trying to be evil, but his questioning of right and wrong threatens those who need clear rules.
In Today's Words:
People who like simple answers think I'm the bad guy because I complicate things.
"Rather be angry than abash any one!"
Context: Teaching his followers how to respond to enemies
He argues that honest anger is better than fake kindness that humiliates the other person. This challenges the idea that we should always be nice, suggesting authentic emotion is more respectful.
In Today's Words:
It's better to be real about being mad than to be fake-nice and make someone feel small.
Thematic Threads
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Zarathustra demonstrates growth by rejecting simple moral categories and embracing complex responses to conflict
Development
Evolution from earlier themes of self-creation—now showing how to maintain growth while dealing with opposition
In Your Life:
Your growth isn't measured by avoiding conflict, but by how skillfully you navigate it when it comes.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Challenges the expectation that good people must always turn the other cheek or follow rigid moral rules
Development
Builds on earlier rejections of herd morality by proposing alternative approaches to justice and conflict
In Your Life:
You don't have to follow society's script about how 'good people' should respond to being wronged.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Shows how to maintain dignity and purpose in relationships even when others cause harm
Development
Develops the theme of authentic connection by showing how to stay true to yourself during conflict
In Your Life:
You can acknowledge someone's humanity even when their actions hurt you.
Identity
In This Chapter
Zarathustra defines himself not by rigid moral rules but by flexible wisdom that serves his mission
Development
Continues the theme of self-definition by showing how identity remains stable even when responses vary
In Your Life:
Your core identity can remain strong even when you adapt your responses to different situations.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Zarathustra thank the adder that bit him instead of killing it or running away?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Zarathustra mean when he says 'shared injustice is better than isolated suffering'?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today caught between being a doormat or being overly aggressive when they're wronged?
application • medium - 4
How would you apply Zarathustra's 'strategic compassion' approach to a difficult situation in your own life?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the difference between weakness and choosing not to fight back?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Response Options
Think of a recent time someone wronged you - maybe a coworker took credit, a family member disrespected you, or a customer was rude. Write down three different ways you could have responded: the passive way, the aggressive way, and a third strategic way inspired by Zarathustra's approach. For each response, predict what would have happened next and how it would have affected your long-term goals.
Consider:
- •What was the other person's likely motivation - fear, pain, habit, or genuine malice?
- •Which response serves your bigger picture goals, not just your immediate feelings?
- •How can you maintain your dignity without escalating the conflict?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you chose strategic compassion over immediate reaction. What did you learn about yourself and the other person? How did it change the outcome?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 20: Marriage and Creating Something Greater
In the next chapter, you'll discover to distinguish between settling and truly partnering for growth, and learn personal development must come before creating a family. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.