Summary
Zarathustra uses the moon as a metaphor for people who pretend to be pure and above earthly desires while secretly being consumed by them. He calls out 'sentimental dissemblers'—those who claim to love life from a distance, like monks or philosophers who act morally superior while harboring jealousy and covetousness. These people shame themselves for having normal human desires, then lie about being beyond such needs. They claim to want only 'pure contemplation' and 'immaculate perception,' but Zarathustra sees through their act. He argues that true innocence comes from embracing your desires honestly, not denying them. Real love requires being willing to risk everything, to 'love and perish' rather than just observe safely from the sidelines. The chapter contrasts the cold, dishonest moon with the coming dawn—the sun that loves boldly and openly. Zarathustra admits he was once fooled by these fake holy people, thinking their detached act was genuine spirituality. But he's learned to see the 'serpent's coil' beneath their godlike masks. The real tragedy isn't having earthly desires—it's the shame and dishonesty that comes from pretending you don't. True strength comes from owning your wants and acting on them with integrity, not from playing the role of someone too pure for this world.
Coming Up in Chapter 38
A mysterious dream about a sheep eating ivy reveals something important about Zarathustra's identity and role as a teacher. What does it mean when even sleep brings messages about who we really are?
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
When yester-eve the moon arose, then did I fancy it about to bear a sun: so broad and teeming did it lie on the horizon. But it was a liar with its pregnancy; and sooner will I believe in the man in the moon than in the woman. To be sure, little of a man is he also, that timid night-reveller. Verily, with a bad conscience doth he stalk over the roofs. For he is covetous and jealous, the monk in the moon; covetous of the earth, and all the joys of lovers. Nay, I like him not, that tom-cat on the roofs! Hateful unto me are all that slink around half-closed windows! Piously and silently doth he stalk along on the star-carpets:—but I like no light-treading human feet, on which not even a spur jingleth. Every honest one’s step speaketh; the cat however, stealeth along over the ground. Lo! cat-like doth the moon come along, and dishonestly.— This parable speak I unto you sentimental dissemblers, unto you, the “pure discerners!” You do _I_ call—covetous ones! Also ye love the earth, and the earthly: I have divined you well!—but shame is in your love, and a bad conscience—ye are like the moon! To despise the earthly hath your spirit been persuaded, but not your bowels: these, however, are the strongest in you! And now is your spirit ashamed to be at the service of your bowels, and goeth by-ways and lying ways to escape its own shame. “That would be the highest thing for me”—so saith your lying spirit unto itself—“to gaze upon life without desire, and not like the dog, with hanging-out tongue: To be happy in gazing: with dead will, free from the grip and greed of selfishness—cold and ashy-grey all over, but with intoxicated moon-eyes! That would be the dearest thing to me”—thus doth the seduced one seduce himself,—“to love the earth as the moon loveth it, and with the eye only to feel its beauty. And this do I call IMMACULATE perception of all things: to want nothing else from them, but to be allowed to lie before them as a mirror with a hundred facets.”— Oh, ye sentimental dissemblers, ye covetous ones! Ye lack innocence in your desire: and now do ye defame desiring on that account! Verily, not as creators, as procreators, or as jubilators do ye love the earth! Where is innocence? Where there is will to procreation. And he who seeketh to create beyond himself, hath for me the purest will. Where is beauty? Where I MUST WILL with my whole Will; where I will love and perish, that an image may not remain merely an image. Loving and perishing: these have rhymed from eternity. Will to love: that is to be ready also for death. Thus do I speak unto you cowards! But now doth your emasculated ogling profess to be “contemplation!” And that which can be examined with cowardly eyes is to be christened “beautiful!” Oh, ye violators of noble...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of False Purity - When People Pretend They're Above It All
People who claim to be above ordinary human desires while secretly being consumed by them, using moral superiority to mask their true motivations.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot people who build their identity around being 'above' normal human desires while secretly being consumed by them.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone repeatedly declares they 'don't care about' something—then watch if their actions suggest they actually care deeply about exactly that thing.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Sentimental dissemblers
People who pretend to have pure, noble feelings while hiding their real selfish motivations. They act like they're above earthly desires but secretly want what everyone else has. Nietzsche saw this as a form of self-deception that makes people dishonest.
Modern Usage:
Like people who post inspirational quotes about minimalism while secretly shopping online, or who claim they don't care about money while constantly complaining about not having enough.
Pure discerners
People who claim they can see truth clearly because they're supposedly above personal desires and emotions. They present themselves as objective observers who aren't influenced by wanting things. Nietzsche argues this is impossible and dishonest.
Modern Usage:
Like critics who claim to be completely unbiased, or people who say they're 'just being logical' when they're actually protecting their own interests.
Immaculate perception
The false idea that you can understand life perfectly by staying detached from it, like looking through clean glass. Nietzsche argues that real understanding comes from being involved and taking risks, not from safe distance.
Modern Usage:
Like people who give relationship advice but have never been in a serious relationship, or managers who make decisions without understanding what workers actually face.
Bad conscience
The shame people feel about their natural human desires and needs. Instead of accepting these as normal, they feel guilty and try to hide them. This creates internal conflict and dishonesty.
Modern Usage:
Like feeling ashamed for wanting nice things, or pretending you don't care about being liked when you actually do.
Light-treading feet
Nietzsche's metaphor for people who sneak around and avoid making honest commitments. They want to get what they want without taking responsibility or facing consequences. He contrasts this with honest steps that 'speak.'
Modern Usage:
Like people who slide into DMs instead of asking someone out directly, or who hint at what they want instead of stating it clearly.
Love and perish
Nietzsche's idea that real love requires risking everything, including the possibility of getting hurt or losing what you have. True passion means being willing to sacrifice safety for what matters to you.
Modern Usage:
Like leaving a stable job to start your own business, or moving across the country for someone you love, knowing it might not work out.
Characters in This Chapter
Zarathustra
Philosophical teacher and critic
He calls out people who pretend to be spiritually pure while secretly being jealous and covetous. He uses the moon as a metaphor to expose their dishonesty and argues for embracing desires honestly instead of hiding them.
Modern Equivalent:
The brutally honest friend who calls out your BS
The monk in the moon
Metaphorical representation of false purity
Represents people who claim to be above earthly desires but are actually consumed by jealousy and want. The monk sneaks around at night, watching others enjoy what he pretends not to want.
Modern Equivalent:
The judgmental person who criticizes others for having fun while secretly wishing they could join in
The sentimental dissemblers
Target of Zarathustra's criticism
These are the people Zarathustra is addressing - those who act morally superior while hiding their real motivations. They shame themselves for having normal human wants and then lie about being beyond such needs.
Modern Equivalent:
People who humble-brag or virtue signal while pursuing their own agenda
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Every honest one's step speaketh; the cat however, stealeth along over the ground."
Context: While criticizing people who sneak around instead of being direct about what they want
This contrasts honest people who make their intentions clear with those who try to get what they want through manipulation or stealth. Honest steps 'speak' because they announce themselves - there's no hiding or shame involved.
In Today's Words:
Honest people are upfront about what they're doing, but sneaky people try to get what they want without anyone noticing.
"Shame is in your love, and a bad conscience—ye are like the moon!"
Context: Addressing the 'pure discerners' who claim to love life from a distance
He's pointing out that their supposed love is corrupted by shame about having normal human desires. Like the moon, they can only reflect light, not generate it - they can only observe life, not fully participate in it.
In Today's Words:
You're embarrassed about wanting things like everyone else, so you pretend you're above it all.
"That would be the highest thing unto me—to find in you, ye higher men, something at which I could laugh!"
Context: Expressing his disappointment with people who claim to be spiritually superior
Rather than being impressed by their supposed purity, Zarathustra finds their pretense laughable. He's looking for authentic humanity, not fake perfection. The ability to laugh at their act shows he sees through it.
In Today's Words:
The best thing about you supposedly superior people is how ridiculous you are when you try to act perfect.
Thematic Threads
Deception
In This Chapter
Self-deception about one's true motives, presenting false purity while harboring earthly desires
Development
Builds on earlier themes of honesty, now focusing on the lies we tell ourselves about our own nature
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself claiming you 'don't care' about something that actually bothers you deeply.
Identity
In This Chapter
Building identity around moral superiority and detachment from human needs
Development
Continues exploration of authentic vs. performed identity, showing how false identity corrupts
In Your Life:
You might notice people in your life whose 'good person' image doesn't match their actual behavior.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society rewards the appearance of being 'above' material concerns and earthly desires
Development
Expands on how social pressure shapes behavior, showing how virtue signaling replaces genuine virtue
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to downplay your legitimate wants and needs to appear more 'spiritual' or 'selfless.'
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
True growth requires honest acknowledgment of desires rather than denial of them
Development
Reinforces that authentic development comes from self-awareness and acceptance, not pretense
In Your Life:
You might need to admit to yourself what you actually want instead of what you think you should want.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Relationships suffer when people perform purity rather than showing genuine vulnerability
Development
Continues theme that authentic connection requires dropping masks and pretenses
In Your Life:
You might realize some relationships feel shallow because one person is always performing rather than being real.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Zarathustra mean when he calls certain people 'sentimental dissemblers' who pretend to be pure while secretly being consumed by earthly desires?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do people sometimes build their identity around claiming they're 'above' wanting normal things like money, recognition, or status?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen this pattern of someone claiming moral superiority while their actions show they want exactly what they say they reject?
application • medium - 4
How would you handle working with someone who constantly talks about 'pure motives' but clearly has a hidden agenda?
application • deep - 5
What's the difference between genuinely not caring about something and pretending not to care because you're ashamed of wanting it?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Decode the Noble Mask
Think of someone in your life who frequently talks about their pure motives or claims to be above petty concerns. Write down three specific things they say about themselves, then write down three behaviors you've actually observed. Look for gaps between their self-image and their actions. This isn't about judging them harshly—it's about developing pattern recognition.
Consider:
- •Focus on repeated patterns, not isolated incidents
- •Consider what they might be genuinely ashamed of wanting
- •Think about how this affects your interactions with them
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you caught yourself claiming you 'didn't care' about something you actually wanted badly. What were you really afraid of admitting, and how did that dishonesty affect your relationships or decisions?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 38: Breaking Free from Academic Prison
What lies ahead teaches us to recognize when you've outgrown environments that once served you, and shows us choosing authenticity over approval leads to genuine growth. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.