Zarathustra offers esoteric hospitality without pity: his large cave with many corners provides refuge for the most hidden, and his animals should be consulted as proud and clever advisors.

By Friedrich Nietzsche, from Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Key Arguments

  • He invites the outcast to his cave as 'last refuge' while praising his own way rather than following the ugliest man’s path.
  • He emphasizes the cave’s capaciousness and hidden nooks suited to secretive beings.
  • He delegates counsel to the eagle and serpent as 'the proudest and the cleverest' rather than offering direct consolations.

Source Quotes

As thanks for that I praise mine to you. Behold, up yonder lies Zarathustra’s cave. ‘My cave is large and deep and has many corners; there the most hidden creature can find a place to hide.
Behold, up yonder lies Zarathustra’s cave. ‘My cave is large and deep and has many corners; there the most hidden creature can find a place to hide. And just nearby are hundreds of nooks and creep-holes for crawling, fluttering, and jumping beasts.
‘My cave is large and deep and has many corners; there the most hidden creature can find a place to hide. And just nearby are hundreds of nooks and creep-holes for crawling, fluttering, and jumping beasts. ‘You outcast, who cast yourself out, you do not want to live among humans and humans’ pity?
Thus will you learn from me too: only the one who does, learns. ‘And first and foremost speak with my animals! The proudest and the cleverest animal– they should be the right advisors for us both!’— Thus spoke Zarathustra and went on his way, still more thoughtfully and slowly than before: for there was much that he was asking himself and did not readily know how to answer. ‘How poor is the human after all!’ he thought in his heart.

Key Concepts

  • Behold, up yonder lies Zarathustra’s cave.
  • My cave is large and deep and has many corners; there the most hidden creature can find a place to hide.
  • And just nearby are hundreds of nooks and creep-holes for crawling, fluttering, and jumping beasts.
  • And first and foremost speak with my animals! The proudest and the cleverest animal– they should be the right advisors for us both!

Context

After being chilled, Zarathustra still grants refuge and channels guidance through his symbolic animals, continuing his practice of protection without pity.

Perspectives

Nietzsche
Models the educator’s milieu: strengthening environment, symbols, and mediated counsel, not pitying cures.
Zarathustra
Holds sovereignty: he sets space and advisors, maintains distance, and protects without degrading the sufferer.