One does not become an abstract concept. Übermensch is an abstract concept. It is intended more as a verb than a noun, and implies “going over”.

But, as Nietzsche revealed in Thus Spoke Zarathustra, to “go over” is “to perish”— that is “to go under”.

In fact the connotation of “going over” and of “going under” is akin to go over to the other side, from life to death. As such an evolving “overman” is one who sacrifices his life so that the future will be superior to that of today.

An evolving “overman” is one who suffers from a “great contempt” for the present type of human being, and this recognition of the mediocrity of the current type of person leads to a profound commitment to change the nature of humanity.

But, alas, this change cannot be achieved in the present, since the majority of people will no such change, and the majority are also incapable of bringing it about.

At best, change can occur as an evolutionary process — and so by pressing ahead and trying to transcend what is mediocre about the present, the evolving “Overman” pushes forward an evolutionary effort to transform the future.

But truth is, this “pushing forward” is a lot like trench warfare. The majority of potential “Overmen” will die in the process of the forward push. In this sense, they “go under”. Few will prevail.

"Man is a rope, tied between beast and overman - a rope over an abyss. A dangerous across, a dangerous on-the-way, a dangerous looking-back, a dangerous shuddering and stopping.

"What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not an end: what can be loved in man is that he is an overture and a going under.

"I love those who do not know how to live, except by going under, for they are those who cross over.

"I love the great despisers because they are the great reverers and arrows of longing for the other shore.

"I love those who do not first seek behind the stars for a reason to go under and be a sacrifice, but who sacrifice themselves for the earth, that the earth may some day become the overman's.

"I love him who lives to know, and who wants to know so that the overman may live some day. And thus he wants to go under.

"I love him who works and invents to build a house for the overman and to prepare earth, animal, and plant for him: for thus he wants to go under.

"I love him who loves his virtue, for virtue is the will to go under and an arrow of longing.

"I love him who does not hold back one drop of spirit for himself, but wants to be entirely the spirit of his virtue: thus he strides over the bridge as spirit.