Franz Kafka Quotes

All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers, is contained in the dog. If one could but realize this knowledge, if one could but bring it into the light of day, if we dogs would but own that we know infinitely more than we admit to ourselves!

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.

I carry the bars within me.

I am not well; I could have built the Pyramids with the effort it takes me to cling on to life and reason.

I mustn't look at you too much, or I won't be able to take my eyes off you at all.

Life's splendor forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness, but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off. It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come.

Now I can look at you in peace; I don't eat you any more.

"Many complain that the words of the wise are always merely parables and of no use in daily life, which is the only life we have. When the sage says: "Go over," he does not mean that we should cross over to some actual place, which we could do anyhow if the labor were worth it; he means some fabulous yonder, something unknown to us, something too that he cannot designate more precisely, and therefore cannot help us here in the very least. All these parables really set out to say merely that the incomprehensible is incomprehensible, and we know that already. But the cares we have to struggle with every day: that is a different matter.

Concerning this a man once said: Why such reluctance? If you only followed the parables you yourselves would become parables and with that rid yourself of all your daily cares.

Another said: I bet that is also a parable.

The first said: You have won.

The second said: But unfortunately only in parable.

The first said: No, in reality: in parable you have lost."

"A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity."

[Letter to Max Brod, July 5, 1922]

I have the true feeling of myself only when I am unbearably unhappy.

In a way, I was safe writing

Plenty of hope — for God — no end of hope — only not for us.

There art two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness.

You can choose to be free , but it's last decision you'll ever make

Every word first looks around in every direction before letting itself be written down by me.