In this discourse, Zarathustra delves into the concept of neighbourly love (“Nächstenliebe”), offering a critical examination of conventional morality and interpersonal relationships.

Zarathustra addresses an audience that embodies the general populace. He observes that people cluster around their neighbours, professing love and exchanging pleasantries. However, he contends that this so-called neighbourly love is, in fact, a manifestation of their own inability to love themselves. They seek escape from themselves by turning to others, attempting to cloak this escapism in the guise of virtue.

He posits that the “Thou” has been sanctified before the “I,” indicating that society has historically revered concern for others over self-awareness and self-love. Zarathustra challenges this hierarchy, suggesting that individuals are drawn to their neighbours not out of genuine affection but to avoid confronting their own selves. He accuses them of using their neighbours as a mirror to deceive themselves into thinking better of themselves.

Contrastingly, Zarathustra advocates for the “love of the farthest” and the “love of the future.” He urges individuals to flee from their neighbours and instead direct their love towards the distant and the forthcoming. He elevates the love for things yet to come and for higher ideals above the conventional love for one’s neighbour.