The Setting (Paragraph 1)
Zarathustra hears of a famous sage who is praised for his teachings on sleep and virtue. The “Academic Chair” represents institutionalized wisdom—philosophy taught in universities or churches. Zarathustra sits among the students to observe, curious about what the world considers “wisdom.”
The Command of Silence (Paragraph 2-3)
The wise man begins by demanding respect for sleep. He suggests that one must avoid anything—or anyone—that disturbs rest. He even compares the thief to a virtuous person because the thief is quiet and “bashful” in the presence of sleep, unlike the loud night-watchman.
The Daily Discipline (Paragraph 4-8)
To get a good night’s sleep, the wise man argues you must work hard at being “virtuous” all day. He lists a specific “prescription” for the soul:
- Ten Overcomings: Conquering your own impulses.
- Ten Reconciliations: Making peace with yourself so bitterness doesn’t keep you awake.
- Ten Truths & Ten Laughters: Keeping the mind and “stomach” (spirit) light and satisfied.
Social & Political Submission (Paragraph 9-15)
Here, the satire gets sharper. The wise man claims you need all the virtues to sleep well—honesty, chastity, and obedience. He even suggests obeying “crooked authorities” and being nice to your “neighbor’s devil.” The goal isn’t justice or truth; the goal is simply to avoid the stress or “spleen” that comes from conflict.
The Cow-like Reflection (Paragraph 16-19)
At night, the wise man doesn’t force sleep. Instead, he “ruminates” like a cow on his day’s work. By reviewing his ten overcomings and truths, he bores his mind into a state of heavy, thoughtless peace. Sleep arrives like a “thief,” stealing his thoughts until he is as “stupid” as the chair he sits on.
Zarathustra’s Realization (Paragraph 20-27)
Zarathustra laughs because he realizes the “virtue” being taught is actually just a sedative. He sees that:
- These teachers aren’t looking for the meaning of life; they are looking for a way to endure life without pain or bad dreams.
- “Wisdom” has become a tool to make people passive, sleepy, and easy to manage.
- He calls these virtues “opiates”—they numb the soul rather than challenging it to grow