Top 7 Quotes by Daniil Kharms

I was most happy when pen and paper were taken from me and I was forbidden from doing anything. I had no anxiety about doing nothing by my own fault, my conscience was clear, and I was happy. This was when I was in

I was most happy when pen and paper were taken from me and I was forbidden from doing anything. I had no anxiety about doing nothing by my own fault, my conscience was clear, and I was happy. This was when I was in prison.

Daniil Kharms

Taken, Anxiety, Paper

Daniil Kharms (2007). “Today I Wrote Nothing: The Selected Writing of Daniil Kharms”, Overlook Press

I am interested only in "nonsense"; only in that which makes no practical sense. I am interested in life only in its absurd manifestations.

Daniil Kharms

Nonsense, Absurd, Manifestation

Daniil Kharms, Neil Cornwell (1993). “Incidences”, Serpents Tail

Open this notebook every day and write down half a page at the very least. If you have nothing to write down, then at least, following Gogol’s advice, write down that today there’s nothing to write. Always write with attention and look on writing as a holiday.

Daniil Kharms

Notebook, Writing, Holiday

Daniil Kharms (2007). “Today I Wrote Nothing: The Selected Writing of Daniil Kharms”, Overlook Press

One must write poetry in such as way that if one threw the poem in a window, the pane would break.

Daniil Kharms

Writing, Way, Window

Daniil Kharms, Aleksandr Ivanovich Vvedenskiĭ, George Gibian (1987). “The Man with the black coat: Russia's literature of the absurd : selected works of Daniil Kharms and Alexander Vvedensky”, Northwestern Univ Pr

There lived a redheaded man who had no eyes or ears. He didn’t have hair either, so he was called a redhead arbitrarily. He couldn’t talk because he had no mouth. He had no nose either. He didn’t even have arms or legs. He had no stomach, he had no back, he had no spine, and he had no innards at all. He didn’t have anything. So we don’t even know who we’re talking about. It’s better that we don’t talk about him any more.

Daniil Kharms

Eye, Men, Hair

Daniil Kharms (2007). “Today I Wrote Nothing: The Selected Writing of Daniil Kharms”, Overlook Press

Is there anything on earth which would have meaning and would even change the course of events not only on earth, but in other worlds?” I asked my teacher. “There is,” my teacher answered me. “Well, what is it?” I asked. “It’s...” began my teacher and suddenly fell silent. I stood and waited intently for his answer. But he was silent. And I stood and was silent. And he was silent. And I stood, silent. And he was silent. We’re both standing and silent. Ho-la-la! We’re both standing and silent. Ho-le-le! Yes, yes, we’re both standing and silent! 16-17 July 1937

Daniil Kharms

Teacher, July, Other Worlds