Thus Spake Zarathustra, is a work of philosophical fiction written by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche between 1883 and 1885. Scholars have argued that ""the worst possible way to understand Zarathustra is as a teacher of doctrines"". Nonetheless Thus Spake Zarathustra ""has contributed most to the public perception of Nietzsche as philosopher - namely, as the teacher of the doctrines of the will to power, the overman and the eternal return"".