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Franz Kafka Quotes - Page 17

All Quotes Art Belief Bones Chaos Choices Courage Darkness Death Depression Doubt Earth Effort Eternity Evil Failing Fate Fear Fighting Freedom Giving Goodness Guilt Hate Health Heart Home Human Nature Individuality Inspirational Joy Kissing Life Literature Loneliness Love Lying Morning Past Reading Reality Religion Responsibility Seduction Sleep Solitude Soul Spring Struggle Suffering Time Travel Understanding Waiting Wall Writing

The person I am in the company of my sisters has been entirely different from the person I am in the company of other people. Fearless, powerful, surprising, moved as I otherwise am only when I write.

The person I am in the company of my sisters has been entirely different from the person I am in the company of other people. Fearless, powerful, surprising, moved as I otherwise am only when I write.

Powerful, Writing, People

Franz Kafka (1983). “Explain to me some stories of Kafka: complete texts with explanations”, Gordian Pr Inc

My doubts stand in a circle around every word, I see them before I see the word, but what then! I do not see the word at all, I invent it.

Circles, Doubt

Franz Kafka, Nahum Norbert Glatzer (1974). “I am a memory come alive: autobiographical writings”, Schocken

I stand on the end platform of the tram and am completely unsure of my footing in this world, in this town, in my family. Not even casually could I indicate any claims that I might rightly advance in any direction. I have not even any defense to offer for standing on this platform, holding on to this strap, letting myself be carried along by this tram, nor for the people who give way to the tram or walk quietly along or stand gazing into shop windows. Nobody asks me to put up a defense, indeed, but that is irrelevant.

People, Giving, Defense

Franz Kafka (2009). “The Metamorphosis: And Other Stories”, p.35, Schocken

But Gregor understood easily that it was not only consideration for him which prevented their moving, for he could easily have been transported in a suitable crate with a few air holes; what mainly prevented the family from moving was their complete hopelessness and the thought that they had been struck by a misfortune as none of their relatives and acquaintances had ever been hit.

Moving, Air, Hopelessness

Franz Kafka (1972). “The Metamorphosis”

His biggest misgiving came from his concern about the loud crash that was bound to occur and would probably create, if not terror, at least anxiety behind all the doors. But that would have to be risked.

Doors, Anxiety, Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka (1972). “The Metamorphosis”

If they were shocked, then Gregor had no further responsibility and could be calm. But if they took everything calmly, he he, too, had no reason to get excited and could, if he hurried, actually be at the station by eight o'clock.

Responsibility, Eight, Calm

Franz Kafka (1972). “The Metamorphosis”

Was he an animal, that music could move him so? He felt as if the way to the unknown nourishment he longed for were coming to light.

Moving, Animal, Light

Franz Kafka (1972). “The Metamorphosis”

I am on the hunt for constructions. I come into a room and find them whitely merging in a corner.

Rooms, Construction, Hunts

Franz Kafka (1948). “The diaries of Franz Kafka”, Schocken

The true way goes over a line that, rather than spanning heights, is hardly above the ground. It appears more decidedly to make one trip than to be walked along.

Lines, Height, Way

Time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if a pleasant, straightforward life is not possible, then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres.

Office, Trying, Horror

Franz Kafka (2013). “Letters to Felice”, p.21, Schocken

The observer of the soul cannot penetrate into the soul, but there doubtless is a margin where he comes into contact with it. Recognition of this contact is the fact that even the soul does not know of itself. Hence it must remain unknown. That would be sad only if there were anything apart from the soul, but there is nothing else.

Soul, Doe, Would Be

Franz Kafka (1991). “The Blue Octavo Notebooks”

That's how it will be, except that in reality, both today and later, one will stand there with a palpable body and a real head, a real forehead, that is, for smiting on with one's hand.

Marriage, Real, Hands

Franz Kafka (2009). “The Metamorphosis: And Other Stories”, p.30, Schocken

In one and the same human being there are cognitions that, however utterly dissimilar they are, yet have one and the same object,so that one can only conclude that there are different subjects in one and the same human being.

Experience, Different, Cognition

Franz Kafka (1954). “Wedding preparations in the country: and other posthumous prose writings. With notes by Max Brod”

And so gentlemen, I learned. Oh, if you have to learn, you learn; if you’re desperate for a way out, you learn; you learn pitilessly. You stand over yourself with a whip in your hand; if there’s the least resistance, you lash yourself.

Hands, Gentleman, Way

Franz Kafka (2008). “Metamorphosis and Other Stories”, Penguin Classics

Anyone who renounces the world must love all men, for he renounces their world too. He thus begins to have some inkling of the true nature of man, which cannot but be loved, always assuming that one is its peer.

Men, History, Peers

Hold fast to the diary from today on! Write regularly! Don't surrender! Even if no salvation should come, I want to be worthy of it every moment.

Writing, Diaries, Want

Franz Kafka (1965). “The Diaries of Franz Kafka”

The more horses you yoke the quicker everything will go - not the rending of the block from its foundation, which is impossible, but the snapping of the traces and with that the gay and empty journey.

Horse, Block, Gay

Franz Kafka (1946). “The great wall of China: stories and reflections”

He thought back on his family with deep emotion and love. His conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even firmer than his sister's. He remained in this state of empty and peaceful reflection until the tower clock struck three in the morning. He still saw that outside the window everything was beginning to grow light. Then, without his consent, his head sank down to the floor, and from his nostrils streamed his last weak breath.

Morning, Reflection, Light

Franz Kafka, Stanley Corngold (1981). “The Metamorphosis”, Bantam Classics

Everyone strives to attain the Law,' answers the man, 'how does it come about, then, that in all these years no one has come seeking admittance but me?' The doorkeeper perceives that the man is nearing his end and his hearing is failing, so he bellows in his ear: 'No one but you could gain admittance through this door, since this door was intended for you. I am now going to shut it.

Men, Law, Doors

Franz Kafka (1970). “The Trial”

There they lay, but not in the forgetfulness of the previous night. She was seeking and he was seeking, they raged and contorted their faces and bored their heads into each others bosom in the urgency of seeking something, and their embraces and their tossing limbs did not avail to make them forget, but only reminded them of what they sought

Night, Bored, Faces

Franz Kafka (1954). “The castle”, Alfred A. Knopf

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