Key Arguments

• Life names itself will to power, not merely procreation or teleology; those names are one secret—will to power.
• Life prefers perishing to renouncing will to power; going-under and sacrifice occur for power.
• Life must be struggle, Becoming, purpose and conflict of purposes; its paths are agonistic.
• Whatever Life creates and loves, it soon opposes: creative self‑overcoming is intrinsic.
• Will to truth is subordinated: Life’s will to power walks on the feet of the will to truth.
• He rejects 'will to existence': what exists cannot will to exist; only where life is, there is will—will to power.
• Living value higher than life itself expresses will to power.

Source Quotes

And this secret did Life herself tell to me. ‘Behold,’ she said, ‘I am . ‘Indeed, you call it will to procreate or drive for a purpose, for what is higher, farther, more manifold: but all this is one and one secret.

‘Behold,’ she said, ‘I am . ‘Indeed, you call it will to procreate or drive for a purpose, for what is higher, farther, more manifold: but all this is one and one secret. ‘I would rather go under than renounce this one thing: and verily, where there is going-under and falling of leaves, behold, there life sacrifices itself–for power!

‘Indeed, you call it will to procreate or drive for a purpose, for what is higher, farther, more manifold: but all this is one and one secret. ‘I would rather go under than renounce this one thing: and verily, where there is going-under and falling of leaves, behold, there life sacrifices itself–for power! ‘That I must be struggle and Becoming and purpose and conflict of purposes: ah, whoever guesses my will also guesses along what ways it has to walk!

‘That I must be struggle and Becoming and purpose and conflict of purposes: ah, whoever guesses my will also guesses along what ways it has to walk! ‘Whatever I create and however much I love it–soon I must oppose both it and my love: thus my will wills it. ‘And even you, who understand, are only a path and footstep of my will: verily, my will to power even walks on the feet of your will to truth!

‘Whatever I create and however much I love it–soon I must oppose both it and my love: thus my will wills it. ‘And even you, who understand, are only a path and footstep of my will: verily, my will to power even walks on the feet of your will to truth! ‘He surely missed the mark who shot at the truth with the words “will to existence” : this will–does not exist!

‘And even you, who understand, are only a path and footstep of my will: verily, my will to power even walks on the feet of your will to truth! ‘He surely missed the mark who shot at the truth with the words “will to existence” : this will–does not exist! ‘For what does not exist cannot will; yet what already exists, how could that then will to exist!

‘For what does not exist cannot will; yet what already exists, how could that then will to exist! ‘Only, where Life is, there too is will: though not will to life, but– thus I teach you–will to power! ‘Much is valued by the living more highly than life itself; but out of this very valuing there speaks–will to power!’– Thus did Life once teach me: and with this, you who are wisest, I go on to solve the riddle of your hearts.

Key Concepts

• ‘Behold,’ she said, ‘I am .
• ‘Indeed, you call it will to procreate or drive for a purpose, for what is higher, farther, more manifold: but all this is one and one secret.
• ‘I would rather go under than renounce this one thing: and verily, where there is going-under and falling of leaves, behold, there life sacrifices itself–for power!
• ‘Whatever I create and however much I love it–soon I must oppose both it and my love: thus my will wills it.
• ‘And even you, who understand, are only a path and footstep of my will: verily, my will to power even walks on the feet of your will to truth!
• ‘He surely missed the mark who shot at the truth with the words “will to existence” : this will–does not exist!
• ‘Only, where Life is, there too is will: though not will to life, but– thus I teach you–will to power!

Context

Personified Life discloses its essence to Zarathustra, subordinating truth and teleology to will to power and emphasizing creative self‑contradiction.

Perspectives

Nietzsche

Confirms central doctrine: 'will to life' (Schopenhauer) is a mistake; life as agonistic self‑overcoming clarifies why truth is instrumental.

Zarathustra

Receives Life’s confession as hermeneutic key to existence and to the drives behind knowledge and creation.