# The Priests — Thus Spoke Zarathustra character guide

> The Priests in Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** those priests, The Priests

**First appearance:** 0040-part-ii-xxvi-the-priests

## Who they are

Religious figures Zarathustra criticizes for their otherworldly teachings.

## Relationships

### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra)

_rivalry_

The Priests represent decaying religious authority and otherworldly values that Zarathustra seeks to overcome.

### [The Tarantulas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_tarantulas)

_rivalry_

Both groups preach dogmatic systems, but the Priests' otherworldly faith clashes with the Tarantulas' worldly revenge ethic.

### [The Superman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_superman)

_rivalry_

The Superman's this-worldly self-overcoming directly invalidates the Priests' reliance on divine grace and afterlife.

### [The Magician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_magician)

_psychological_

The Magician mimics priestly piety to manipulate others, revealing the theatrical fraud behind religious authority.

### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra)

_rivalry_

The Priests represent decaying religious authority and otherworldly values that Zarathustra seeks to overcome.

### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra)

_rivalry_

The Priests represent decaying religious authority and otherworldly values that Zarathustra seeks to overcome.

## In the story

### [Part I: Zarathustra’s Discourses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-i-zarathustra-s-discourses)

Representatives of old religious values that Zarathustra criticizes and seeks to overcome.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/ii)

The old saint represents a priestly figure who has retreated to the forest to worship God, unaware of God's death.

### [XXVI: The Priests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi-the-priests)

Described as enemies, prisoners of false values, and builders of churches as 'sweet-smelling caves.'

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-ii)

Referenced as those who have become pious again, engaging in prayer and seeking comfort in belief.

### [The Three Evil Things](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-liv-the-three-evil-things)

Criticized as spurious wise who have abused selfishness and taught selflessness as virtue.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-ii)

Described as spurious wise, world-weary, and servile, who abuse selfishness and call it virtue.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-vi)

Referenced as old idol-priests who broil the best of the firstlings for their banquet.

### [Out of Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxvi-out-of-service)

Zarathustra associates the pope with the priestly type, which he critiques for equivocation and lack of clarity.

### [The Higher Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxxiii-the-higher-man)

Implicitly referenced in the critique of those who preach submission, humility, and petty virtues.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_priests
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters