and with solitary nature—and, I might add, with people in the humbler walks of life; his sister remarks that in Genoa during the winter of 1880 and 1881 he perhaps first came to know the common people, finding much that was lovable in them, and they showing a kind of affectionate reverence for him.[1] Something in his manner of life at this time is hinted at in a private memorandum. His ideal, he says, is "an independence that does not offend the eye, a softened and veiled pride, one that equalizes things with others (sich abzahlt an die Anderen) by not competing for their honors and enjoyments, and not minding ridicule. This shall ennoble my habits of life: to be never common and always courteous, not to be covetous, but to strive quietly and keep in the upper air; to be frugal, even niggardly toward myself, but unexacting (milde) toward others. Light sleep, a free quiet step, no alcohol, no princes or other notabilities, no women or newspapers, no honors, no intercourse except with the highest spirits and now and then with the common people—this is as indispensable as the sight of vigorous and healthy vegetation—foods easiest had, which do not take one into the press of greedy and smacking crowds, if possible self-prepared foods, or those not needing preparation."[2]a
At least six or seven of these years belong to the third period of Nietzsche's life—though fixing a date for its beginning is a more or less arbitrary thing. Some scholars put Dawn of Day (1881) and Joyful Science (1882) into it, others class these works with those of the second period, while still others—and with probably the greatest show of reason—think that they mark the transition from one period to the other. The fact is that there is no break, no catastrophic change, such as occurred in 1876. All we can truthfully say is that gradually the tone becomes more positive, that, while criticism continues or is even sharper than ever, constructive thinking appears more and more, and an approach to a comprehensive world-view.
The books unquestionably belonging to this period include the two which are the best known, or rather most quoted, of all of Nietzsche works, Thus spake Zarathustra (1883-5) and Beyond Good and Evil (1885-6); also Towards the Genealogy
