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<h2> XIII. CHASTITY. </h2>
<p>I love the forest. It is bad to live in cities: there, there are too many
of the lustful.</p>
<p>Is it not better to fall into the hands of a murderer, than into the
dreams of a lustful woman?</p>
<p>And just look at these men: their eye saith it—they know nothing
better on earth than to lie with a woman.</p>
<p>Filth is at the bottom of their souls; and alas! if their filth hath still
spirit in it!</p>
<p>Would that ye were perfect—at least as animals! But to animals
belongeth innocence.</p>
<p>Do I counsel you to slay your instincts? I counsel you to innocence in
your instincts.</p>
<p>Do I counsel you to chastity? Chastity is a virtue with some, but with
many almost a vice.</p>
<p>These are continent, to be sure: but doggish lust looketh enviously out of
all that they do.</p>
<p>Even into the heights of their virtue and into their cold spirit doth this
creature follow them, with its discord.</p>
<p>And how nicely can doggish lust beg for a piece of spirit, when a piece of
flesh is denied it!</p>
<p>Ye love tragedies and all that breaketh the heart? But I am distrustful of
your doggish lust.</p>
<p>Ye have too cruel eyes, and ye look wantonly towards the sufferers. Hath
not your lust just disguised itself and taken the name of
fellow-suffering?</p>
<p>And also this parable give I unto you: Not a few who meant to cast out
their devil, went thereby into the swine themselves.</p>
<p>To whom chastity is difficult, it is to be dissuaded: lest it become the
road to hell—to filth and lust of soul.</p>
<p>Do I speak of filthy things? That is not the worst thing for me to do.</p>
<p>Not when the truth is filthy, but when it is shallow, doth the discerning
one go unwillingly into its waters.</p>
<p>Verily, there are chaste ones from their very nature; they are gentler of
heart, and laugh better and oftener than you.</p>
<p>They laugh also at chastity, and ask: "What is chastity?</p>
<p>Is chastity not folly? But the folly came unto us, and not we unto it.</p>
<p>We offered that guest harbour and heart: now it dwelleth with us—let
it stay as long as it will!"—</p>
<p>Thus spake Zarathustra.</p>
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