Preface
Original German
Der Antichrist
Fluch auf das Christentum
Dies Buch gehört den wenigsten. Vielleicht lebt selbst noch keiner von ihnen. Es mögen die sein, welche meinen Zarathustra verstehn: wie dürfte ich mich mit denen verwechseln, für welche heute schon Ohren wachsen? — Erst das Übermorgen gehört mir. Einige werden posthum geboren.
Die Bedingungen, unter denen man mich versteht und dann mit Notwendigkeit versteht — ich kenne sie nur zu genau. Man muß rechtschaffen sein in geistigen Dingen bis zur Härte, um auch nur meinen Ernst, meine Leidenschaft auszuhalten. Man muß geübt sein, auf Bergen zu leben — das erbärmliche Zeitgeschwätz von Politik und Völker-Selbstsucht unter sich zu sehn. Man muß gleichgültig geworden sein, man muß nie fragen, ob die Wahrheit nützt, ob sie einem Verhängnis wird… Eine Vorliebe der Stärke für Fragen, zu denen niemand heute den Mut hat; der Mut zum Verbotenen; die Vorherbestimmung zum Labyrinth. Eine Erfahrung aus sieben Einsamkeiten. Neue Ohren für neue Musik. Neue Augen für das Fernste. Ein neues Gewissen für bisher stumm gebliebene Wahrheiten. Und der Wille zur Ökonomie großen Stils: seine Kraft, seine Begeisterung beisammenbehalten… Die Ehrfurcht vor sich; die Liebe zu sich; die unbedingte Freiheit-gegen sich…
Wohlan! Das allein sind meine Leser, meine rechten Leser, meine vorherbestimmten Leser: was liegt am Rest? — Der Rest ist bloß die Menschheit. — Man muß der Menschheit überlegen sein durch Kraft, durch Höhe der Seele — durch Verachtung …
Friedrich Nietzsche
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the German of the preface, all sixty-two sections and the seven-article Law Against Christianity, for fidelity, the author’s force and cadence, and modern clarity. Nietzsche’s own emphasis is kept.
The Antichrist
A Curse on Christianity
This book belongs to the very few. Perhaps not one of them is alive yet. They may be those who understand my Zarathustra: how could I confuse myself with those for whom ears are already growing today?—Only the day after tomorrow belongs to me. Some are born posthumously.
The conditions under which one understands me, and then understands me of necessity—I know them all too well. One must be honest in matters of the spirit to the point of harshness merely to endure my seriousness, my passion. One must be practiced in living on mountains—in seeing the pitiful chatter of the day about politics and national selfishness beneath oneself. One must have become indifferent; one must never ask whether truth is useful, whether it will prove one's doom… The strong person's predilection for questions no one today has the courage to face; courage for the forbidden; predestination to the labyrinth. An experience drawn from seven solitudes. New ears for new music. New eyes for what is most distant. A new conscience for truths that have remained silent until now. And the will to economy on a grand scale: keeping one's strength, one's enthusiasm, intact… Reverence for oneself; love for oneself; unconditional freedom toward oneself…
Well then! These alone are my readers, my rightful readers, my predestined readers: what does the rest matter?—The rest is merely humanity.—One must stand above humanity in strength, in height of soul—in contempt…
Friedrich Nietzsche
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the same German text of the preface, all sixty-two sections and the Law Against Christianity. Nietzsche’s own emphasis is kept.
The Antichrist
A Curse on Christianity
This book belongs to very few people. Perhaps none of them is alive yet. They may be the people who understand my Zarathustra. How could I confuse myself with those for whom ears are already growing today?—Only the day after tomorrow belongs to me. Some people are born after their deaths.
I know only too well the conditions under which people understand me, and then understand me of necessity. You must be honest in intellectual matters to the point of harshness, just to bear my seriousness, my passion. You must be used to living on mountains—to seeing the wretched chatter of the day about politics and national selfishness below you. You must have become indifferent. You must never ask whether the truth is useful, whether it will be your downfall… A strength that prefers questions no one today has the courage to ask; courage for what is forbidden; being destined for the labyrinth. Experience gained in seven solitudes. New ears for new music. New eyes for the most distant things. A new conscience for truths that have so far stayed silent. And the will to manage your resources on a grand scale: to keep your strength, your enthusiasm together… Deep respect for yourself; love for yourself; complete freedom in dealing with yourself…
Well then! These alone are my readers, my true readers, my destined readers. What does the rest matter?—The rest is only humanity.—You must stand above humanity through strength, through height of soul—through contempt…
Friedrich Nietzsche
About this section
Preface is part of The Antichrist by Friedrich Nietzsche. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 1 of 8 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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