Karl Kraus Quotes

A weak man has doubts before a decision; a strong man has them afterwards.

Progress makes purses out of human skin.

I had a terrible vision: I saw an encyclopedia walk up to a polymath and open him up.

There are women who are not beautiful but only look that way.

To be perfect, one lacks only a defect.

»Den Weltmarkt erobern«: Weil Händler so sprachen, mußten Krieger so handeln. Seitdem wird erobert, wenngleich nicht der Weltmarkt.

Wer Meinungen von sich gibt, darf sich auf Widersprüchen nicht ertappen lassen. Wer Gedanken hat, denkt auch zwischen den Widersprüchen.

A “seducer” who boasts of initiating women into the mystery of love is like a stranger who arrives at a railroad station and offers to show the sights to a tourist guide.

Hate must make a person productive; otherwise one might as well love.

I have often been asked to be fair and view a matter from all sides. I did so, hoping something might improve if I viewed all sides of it. But the result was the same. So I went back to viewing things only from one side, which saves me a lot of work and disappointment. For it is comforting to regard something as bad and be able use one’s prejudice as an excuse.

One must read all writers twice - the good as well as the bad. The one kind will be recognized; the other, unmasked.

Psychoanalysis is that mental illness for which it regards itself as therapy.

I have to do this, as long as it is at all possible; for if those who are obliged to look after commas had always made sure they were in the right place, then Shanghai would not be burning.

Man hat mich oft gebeten, gerecht zu sein und eine Sache von allen Seiten zu betrachten. Ich habe es getan, in der Hoffnung, daß eine Sache vielleicht dadurch besser werden könnte, daß ich sie von allen Seiten betrachte. Aber ich kam zu dem gleichen Resultat. So blieb ich dabei, eine Sache nur von einer Seite zu betrachten, wodurch ich mir viel Arbeit und Enttäuschung erspare. Denn es ist tröstlich, eine Sache für schlecht zu halten und sich dabei auf ein Vorurteil ausreden zu können.

Soldiers who don't know what they're fighting for know, nevertheless, what they're not fighting for.