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Zarathustra states that pity is for the weak. They do not have enough strength to stand for themselves and work their way up to become the overman. He highly criticizes pity because it is commonly associated with church and government, the two authorities that Zarathustra disapproves of. The government pities individuals because it believes that humanity cannot take care of itself. The government believes that a group of men of authority will guide the individuals to harmony among themselves. Religion also does not believe in the capabilities of humanity. It pities humanity because it believes that it needs a third figure to guide them into the guaranteed life of heaven. Therefore, God sent Jesus to sacrifice himself in order to give humanity a second chance. He also states that God is weak because "God is dead; God has died of his pity for man" (Nietzsche, 114). Upon stating all of these guidelines, it is expected for Zarathustra to act to his words. However, Zarathustra shows his weakness of pity in "Of the Priests." He says, "I pity these priests. They go against my taste, too; but that means little to me since I am among them" (Nietzsche 115). This has violated his own teachings. Not only he is giving pity towards priests, but also identifying himself as someone who can relate to priests. In order to overcome pity, one must have a hard heart and only show humanity the true form of the overman. Just like winter, one must be in a hard-hearted state. Then, humanity will envy those who reached the overman and work their selves up. .
Alongside with pity comes the feeling of love. These two subjects come hand in hand because one must feel some type of love towards another in order to pity them. Like pity, love is keeping Zarathustra from achieving the overman. Rather than seeking answers and his true capabilities, loving humanity has made him stay longer than he should be.
