How can you be new unless you first become ashes?

What it means

Zarathustra says the creator must be willing to burn in his own flame. Real change means letting old versions of yourself go. The ashes come before the rebirth.

The source

"How can you be new unless you first become ashes?" Nietzsche said it in Thus Spoke Zarathustra 1, On the Way of the Creator. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.

"wie wolltest du neu werden, wenn du nicht erst Asche geworden bist"

Original German, Thus Spoke Zarathustra 1, On the Way of the Creator. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Nietzsche (1844–1900). German philosopher who wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra and philosophized with a hammer. He asked people to say yes to life, hardship and all.

Questions

What does "How can you be new unless you first become ashes?" mean?

Zarathustra says the creator must be willing to burn in his own flame. Real change means letting old versions of yourself go. The ashes come before the rebirth.

Who said "How can you be new unless you first become ashes?"?

Nietzsche (1844–1900). Source: Thus Spoke Zarathustra 1, On the Way of the Creator.

What is the original German?

wie wolltest du neu werden, wenn du nicht erst Asche geworden bist. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.

Is "How can you be new unless you first become ashes?" on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"How can you be new unless you first become ashes?" (Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra 1, On the Way of the Creator, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/how-can-you-be-new-unless-you-first