ABSTRACT
In studies which, like the present one, devote particular attention to the literary devices by means of which Nietzsche expresses his philosophical thought, it is often assumed or implied that Nietzsche’s achievement as a philosopher or thinker or psychologist is equalled or even excelled by his achievement as a literary artist. I should prefer it to be clear at the outset that I share neither this view nor its corollary that Thus Spake Zarathustra (with which we shall of course here be chiefly, though not exclusively, concerned) is his greatest or most representative work. Nietzsche is, to be sure, sui generis and a black sheep in any fold, whether philosophic or literary; I doubt however that his prose is at its best when it approaches the nature of poetry; he is certainly at his worst when writing verse.
