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'.