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The diffusion of the sun’s rays symbolizes the generous bestowal of wisdom, namely Zarathustra’s. The sun’s position at noon, or the great noontide, symbolizes the time when humanity is midway through its course between animal and Superman and is therefore journeying toward its highest hope. That is, noontide represents the time when humanity embraces the death of God; the will to power; and the coming of a fully free, self-determining, and evolved human race. At the end of the novel, Zarathustra emerges from his cave “like a morning sun emerging from behind dark mountains,” anticipating the coming noontide.
Sun, Noon, Noontide Quotes in Thus Spoke Zarathustra
The Thus Spoke Zarathustra quotes below all refer to the symbol of Sun, Noon, Noontide. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Of the Bestowing Virtue
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One repays a teacher badly if one remains only a pupil. And why, then, should you not pluck at my laurels? […]
Now I bid you lose me and find yourselves; and only when you have all denied me will I return to you. […]
And once more you shall have become my friends and children of one hope: and then I will be with you a third time, that I may celebrate the great noontide with you.
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Of the Three Evil Things
Quotes
Whether one be servile before gods and divine kicks, or before men and the silly opinions of men: it spits at slaves of all kinds, this glorious selfishness!
Bad: that is what it calls all that is broken-down and niggardly-servile, unclear, blinking eyes, oppressed hearts, and that false, yielding type of man who kisses with broad, cowardly lips. […]
And he who declares the Ego healthy and holy and selfishness glorious – truly he, a prophet, declares too what he knows: 'Behold, it comes, it is near, the great noontide!'
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The Sign
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‘Pity! Pity for the Higher Man!’ he cried out, and his countenance was transformed into brass. 'Very well! That—has had its time! […]
‘The lion has come, my children are near, Zarathustra has become ripe, my hour has come!
This is my morning, my day begins: rise up now, rise up, great noontide!’
Thus spoke Zarathustra and left his cave, glowing and strong, like a morning sun emerging from behind dark mountains.
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Sun, Noon, Noontide Symbol Timeline in Thus Spoke Zarathustra
The timeline below shows where the symbol Sun, Noon, Noontide appears in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Zarathustra’s Prologue
...For 10 years, he enjoys living in solitude—but one morning at dawn, he addresses the sun, praising it for giving light to him and his animals. Like the sun, Zarathustra wants...
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10. Zarathustra has this realization at noon. Above, an eagle circles, with a serpent coiled around its neck—these are Zarathustra’s animals (the...
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Of the Bestowing Virtue
...good and evil.” According to Zarathustra, this is the essence of power; it’s a “golden sun.”
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...they’ve denied him. Then, he will rejoin them, love them anew, and “celebrate the great noontide” with them.
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The great noontide is when a human being stands in the middle of the course between animal and...
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The Dance Song
...accompanies their dance with a song praising Life. After the girls go away and the sun sets, Zarathustra grows sad.
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Of Immaculate Perception
...once led astray by this supposed knowledge, until he understood that knowledge is like the sun’s light, suffusing everything.
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Of Scholars
...rather than on scholarly “respectabilities.” Scholars are mere spectators in the shade, avoiding the scorching sun—they stare at passersby and think about others’ thoughts. Their cleverness is deceitful. Scholars resent Zarathustra...
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Of the Virtue that Makes Small
...into nothingness. He implores the people to “be such as can will!” Someday, the “great noontide” will arrive.
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Of Passing By
...city by; it contains nothing to make either better or worse, and before the great noontide comes, it must be destroyed.
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Of the Three Evil Things
...are all disgusting to selfishness. “World-weary cowards” praise the supposedly “selfless,” but when the great noontide comes, Zarathustra’s judgment of selfishness will be vindicated.
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Of Old and New Law-Tables
...to the goal, not the goal itself. Based on this, Zarathustra has taught the great noontide, and his goal of bringing together all chance in order to create the future—and also...
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...humanity. (30) Zarathustra calls upon his will to be inexorable and ready for the great noontide, ready to be annihilated in the course of victory.
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The Convalescent
...to a new or better life, but to the same life. He teaches the great noontide and the Superman. And now, it’s time for Zarathustra’s down-going. His animals fall silent, and...
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At Noontide
Zarathustra encounters no one else and enjoys his solitude. Just before noon, however, he takes a nap in the shade of a gnarled tree, content. His soul...
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Of the Higher Man
...has died. (2) God was the Higher Men’s greatest danger. Only after his death can noontide come, and the Men be masters. Now they desire the Superman. (3) While most ask...
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The Sign
...next morning, Zarathustra springs out of bed and emerges from his cave “like a morning sun emerging from behind dark mountains.” The Higher Men are still asleep; but that is fine,...
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...The lion has come, his children are near, he is ripe, and today the great noontide will rise up. Zarathustra leaves his cave, glowing and strong like the sun.
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