Erich Kastner Quotes

Germany, Writer
February 23, 1899 – July, 29, 1974.

Emil Erich Kästner was a German author, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known primarily for his humorous, socially astute poems and for children's books including Emil and the Detectives. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1960 for his autobiography Als ich ein kleiner Junge war. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.

Also known as Poet, Screenwriter, Satirist

The only people who attain power are those who crave it.

Erich Kastner
- People
- Power
- Crave
Determination is all very well if you want to jump off a tower. But will power is not enough when it comes to cooking beef and noodles.

Erich Kastner
- Cooking
- Willpower
- Beef

Emil was already familiar with those people who always say, “Goodness, everything was better in the old days.” And he no longer listened when people told him that in the old days the air was cleaner or that cows had bigger heads. Because it usually wasn’t true. Those people simply wanted to be dissatisfied, because otherwise they would have to be satisfied.

Erich Kastner
You can build something beautiful from stones that are put in your way.

Erich Kastner
- Way
- Build
- Stones
If life has hit out at you, and you weren't prepared for it, a little housefly has only to cough and it will knock you flat

Erich Kastner
- Life
- Prepared
- Hit Out
Most people put their childhood away as if it was an old hat. They forget it as if it was a phone number that does not apply anymore. They think about their life as if it was a salami which they are eating slice by slice and then they become grown-ups, but what are they now? Only those who grow up and still remain children are real human beings.

Erich Kastner
- People
- Childhood
- Old