CORROBORATIVE READINGS 



" Somewhere there are still peoples and herds, but 

 not with us, my brethren: with us there are states. 



"The state? What is that? Well, now open your 

 ears, for now I deliver my sentence on the death of 

 peoples. 



" The state is called the coldest of all cold monsters. 

 And coldly it lieth ; and this lie creepeth out of its mouth : 

 ' I, the state, am the people/ 



" Far too many are born: for the superfluous the state 

 was invented. 



" Behold, behold, how it allureth them, the much-too- 

 many! How it devoureth, oheweth, and masticateth 

 them! 



" * On earth there is nothing greater than I ; God's 

 regulating finger am I/ thus the monster howleth. 

 And not only those with long ears and short sight sink 

 upon their knees ! 



" Alas, even within you, ye great souls, the state whis- 

 pereth its gloomy lies! Alas! it findeth out the rich 

 hearts which are eager to squander themselves ! 



" It will give you anything if you adore it, the new 

 idol: thus it buyeth for itself the splendour of your vir- 

 tue and the glance of your proud eyes. 



" With you the state' will bait the hook for the much- 

 too-many! Ay, a piece of hellish machinery was in- 



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