But the people ye remain for me, even with your virtues, the people with purblind eyes--the people who know not what SPIRIT is!
Spirit is life which itself cutteth into life: by its own torture doth it increase its own knowledge,--did ye know that before?
And the spirit's happiness is this: to be anointed and consecrated with tears as a sacrificial victim,--did ye know that before?
And the blindness of the blind one, and his seeking and groping, shall yet testify to the power of the sun into which he hath gazed,--did ye know that before?
And with mountains shall the discerning one learn to BUILD! It is a small thing for the spirit to remove mountains,--did ye know that before?
Ye know only the sparks of the spirit: but ye do not see the anvil which it is, and the cruelty of its hammer!
Verily, ye know not the spirit's pride! But still less could ye endure the spirit's humility, should it ever want to speak!
And never yet could ye cast your spirit into a pit of snow: ye are not hot enough for that! Thus are ye unaware, also, of the delight of its coldness.
In all respects, however, ye make too familiar with the spirit; and out of wisdom have ye often made an almshouse and a hospital for bad poets.
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and how does one sacrifice oneself -- apart from by becoming shamanised?
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