Key Arguments

• Affirms a deity who ‘never says Nay’ and whose silence is called ‘cunning,’ therefore ‘seldom found to be wrong’: equates non-contradiction with wisdom.
• Praises a God who ‘always says Yea’ to the world he created, thus endorsing the world indiscriminately.
• Frames this as ‘innocence’ that is ‘beyond good and evil,’ but reduces it to non-knowledge of innocence.

Source Quotes

‘He bears our burdens, he took upon himself the form of a servant, he is patient of heart and never says Nay; and whoever loves his God chastens him.’ – But the ass in response brayed Yea-Ah. ‘He does not talk: except that to the world that he created he always says Yea: thus he praises his world. It is his cunning that does not speak: thus he is seldom found to be wrong.’ – But the ass in response brayed Yea-Ah. ‘Inconspicuously he goes through the world.

If he has spirit, he conceals it; but everyone believes in his long ears.’ – But the ass in response brayed Yea-Ah. ‘What concealed wisdom it is that he wears long ears and says only Yea and never Nay! Has he not created the world in his own image, that is, as stupid as possible?’ – But the ass in response cried Yea-Ah.

Beyond good and evil is your kingdom. It is your innocence not to know what innocence is.’ – But the ass in response brayed Yea-Ah. ‘Behold then, how you push no one away from you, neither beggars nor kings.

Key Concepts

• ‘He does not talk: except that to the world that he created he always says Yea: thus he praises his world. It is his cunning that does not speak: thus he is seldom found to be wrong.’
• ‘What concealed wisdom it is that he wears long ears and says only Yea and never Nay!
• It is your innocence not to know what innocence is.

Context

Central stanzas of the litany articulate a theology of unqualified assent and strategic silence as supreme wisdom.

Perspectives

Nietzsche

Critiques this as decadent quietism masquerading as wisdom; indiscriminate ‘Yes’ is stupidity or cowardice, not Dionysian affirmation. True ‘Yes’ presupposes the power to negate.

Zarathustra

Rejects the ‘never Nay’ doctrine as anti-creator; to will the eternal return requires the strength to say both Yes and No. He sees their ‘innocence’ as ignorance.