An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 528 words)
ne 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, however, tell me, who will bring it out
again?
Guard against injuring the anchorite! If ye have done so, however, well
then, kill him also!—
Thus spake Zarathustra.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
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.
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
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.
