Q0496
“Man is a rope stretched between animal and overman — a rope…” — Friedrich Nietzsche (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue. Theme: humanity.
English
Man is a rope stretched between animal and overman — a rope over an abyss.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue and files it under Philosophy of Will. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a German classical philologist who became a radical critic of morality, metaphysics, and modern culture. Appointed professor at Basel at twenty-four, he resigned from ill health and wrote in solitude across Switzerland, Italy, and Germany.
How to read this passage
Philosophers ask what makes humans distinctive, what we owe one another as humans, and how “humanity” can include or exclude. This passage enters that discussion through humanity.
Concepts in this quote
- Humanity
- Humanity names both the species and the moral quality of being humane—bridging anthropology and ethics.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Friedrich Nietzsche. (n.d.). Man is a rope stretched between animal and overman — a rope over an abyss. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0496
MLA: Friedrich Nietzsche. “Man is a rope stretched between animal and….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0496.
Chicago: Friedrich Nietzsche. “Man is a rope stretched between animal and….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0496.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Man is a rope stretched between animal and…”?
The passage is attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue. The archive attributes this English wording to Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Prologue and files it under Philosophy of Will. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Friedrich Nietzsche mean by humanity?
Philosophers ask what makes humans distinctive, what we owe one another as humans, and how “humanity” can include or exclude. This passage enters that discussion through humanity.