The text discusses Friedrich Nietzsche's views on light and shadow. It first quotes Nietzsche saying "I love shadow as I love light, because there is beauty of the face, clarity of discourse, and firmness of character in shadow as much as in light." It then notes that shadow is often found following man but is never his slave, and that when man flees from light, shadow flees from man, showing shadow's liberty. It concludes by saying how often light flees from man, causing shadow to abandon him as well.