Franz Kafka Quotes
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Art is for the artist is only suffering through which he releases himself for further suffering.
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My guiding principle is this: Guilt is never to be doubted.
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Sensual love deceives one as to the nature of heavenly love; it could not do so alone, but since it unconsciously has the element of heavenly love within it, it can do so.
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Now the Sirens have a still more fatal weapon than their song, namely their silence... Someone might possibly have escaped from their singing; but from their silence, certainly never.
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Association with human beings lures one into self-observation.
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It is only our conception of time that makes us call the Last Judgement by this name. It is, in fact, a kind of martial law.
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Ours is a lost generation, it may be, but it is more blameless than those earlier generations.
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Leopards break into the temple and drink to the dregs what is in the sacrificial pitchers; this is repeated over and over again; finally it can be calculated in advance, and it becomes a part of the ceremony.
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May I kiss you then? On this miserable paper? I might as well open the window and kiss the night air.
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Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.
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Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.
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Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.
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The relationship to one's fellow man is the relationship of prayer, the relationship to oneself is the relationship of striving; it is from prayer that one draws the strength for one's striving.
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Heaven is dumb, echoing only the dumb.
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Please — consider me a dream.
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The way is infinitely long, nothing of it can be subtracted, nothing can be added, and yet everyone applies his own childish yardstick to it. 'Certainly, this yard of the way you still have to go, too, and it will be accounted unto you.'
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I carry the bars within me.
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Only the moment counts. It determines life.
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Idleness is the beginning of all vice, the crown of all virtues.
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Do not waste your time looking for an obstacle - maybe there is none.
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The indestructible is one: it is each individual human being and, at the same time, it is common to all, hence the incomparably indivisible union that exists between human beings.
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From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached.
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By imposing too great a responsibility, or rather, all responsibility, on yourself, you crush yourself.
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We all have wings, but they have not been of any avail to us and if we could tear them off, we would do so.