In this chapter, Zarathustra speaks about an individual who he refers to as the Sublime One, who stands with a raised chest, akin to someone holding their breath, cloaked in silence. He is adorned with “ugly truths,” symbolized by torn garments and thorns hanging from him, yet no roses are visible—signifying a lack of beauty or joy in his pursuit.

Zarathustra observes that the Sublime One has not learned to laugh or appreciate beauty; he has returned from the “forest of knowledge” appearing dark and serious, still bearing the aura of a wild beast he has not yet conquered. His demeanor is tense, compared to a tiger poised to leap.

Decked out with ugly truths, spoils from his hunt, and rich in torn garments; many thorns
hung on him too yet I saw no rose there. Laughter he still has not learned, nor beauty. Gloomily this hunter came back from the forest of understanding.

Zarathustra then addresses his “friends”, to whom he attributes the notion that in matters of taste, there can be no dispute. He responds to this by stating that all of life is “a dispute over taste and tasting”.

The narrative progresses with Zarathustra wishing for the Sublime One to grow weary of his sublimity so that his true beauty might emerge. He hopes the Sublime One will turn away from himself, overcoming his own shadow, and step into his own sun. Zarathustra notes that the Sublime One has spent too long in the shadows, his cheeks pale from waiting, harboring contempt and disgust that linger in his gaze and on his lips.

Zarathustra asserts that while the Sublime One has conquered beasts and solved riddles, he must now transform these beasts and riddles into “heavenly children”.

The chapter concludes with Zarathustra emphasizing that the Sublime One’s knowledge has not yet learned to smile or be without envy, and his passionate outpourings have not found peace in beauty. He advocates for the Sublime One’s desires to submerge not in satiety but in beauty, asserting that grace is integral to the magnanimity of the great-souled. Zarathustra envisions the hero resting with an arm over his head, overcoming even his rest, suggesting that for the hero, embracing beauty is an arduous task.