For this is how things are: the diminution and leveling of European man constitutes our greatest danger, for the sight of him makes us weary.—We can see nothing today that wants to grow greater, we suspect that things will continue to go down, down, to become thinner, more good-natured, more prudent, more comfortable, more mediocre, more indifferent, more Chinese, more Christian—there is no doubt that man is getting 'better' all the time.

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].