Read from a distant star, the majuscule script of our earthly existence would perhaps lead to the conclusion that the earth was the distinctively ascetic planet, a nook of disgruntled, arrogant creatures filled with a profound disgust with themselves, at the earth, at all life, who inflict as much pain on themselves as they possibly can out of pleasure in inflicting pain which is probably their only pleasure.

J. In the following few days Nietzsche sent short writings—known as the Wahnbriefe ("Madness Letters")—to a number of friends (including Cosima Wagner and Jacob Burckhardt). Now with the new style of Zarathustra his work became even more alienating and the market received it only to the degree required by politeness.

Nietzsche's key ideas include the "death of God" the Übermensch the eternal recurrence the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy perspectivism and the will to power. His sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche acted as curator and editor of Nietzsche's manuscripts during his illness. [citation needed].