And as the lesser surrendereth himself to the greater that he may have delight and power over the least of all, so doth even the greatest surrender himself, and staketh⁠—life, for the sake of power.

It is the surrender of the greatest to run risk and danger, and play dice for death.

And where there is sacrifice and service and love-glances, there also is the will to be master. By byways doth the weaker then slink into the fortress, and into the heart of the mightier one⁠—and there stealeth power.

And this secret spake Life herself unto me. “Behold,” said she, “I am that which must ever surpass itself .

“To be sure, ye call it will to procreation, or impulse towards a goal, towards the higher, remoter, more manifold: but all that is one and the same secret.