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Karl Kraus Quotes

1874–1936 Austria

Karl Kraus (28 April 1874 – 12 June 1936) was an Austrian journalist, satirist, essayist, aphorist, playwright and poet.

Austria
Essayists
Journalists
Playwrights
Poets

Also known as: Karl Kraus, Kraus, Karl

Random Karl Kraus quote

93 quotes

Christianity has enriched the erotic meal with the appetizer of curiosity and the dessert of remorse.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

I would have stage-fright if I had to speak with every one of the people before whom I speak.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

The closer the look one takes at a word, the greater the distance from which it looks back.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

The extraordinary ability of a woman to forget is not the same as the talent of a lady not to be able to remember.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

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

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

A man's jealousy is a social institution, a woman's prostitution an instinct.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Sentimental irony is a dog that bays at the moon while pissing on graves.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Progress … has subordinated the purpose of life to the means of subsistence and turned us into the nuts and bolts for our tools.

In These Great Times : A Karl Kraus Reader (1976)

Keep your passions in check, but beware of giving your reason free rein.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

The making of a journalist: no ideas and the ability to express them.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Psychology is as useless as directions for using poison.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Today's literature: prescriptions written by patients.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Language is the mother of thought, not its handmaiden.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

One of the most widespread diseases is diagnosis.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

The real truths are those that can be invented.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Lord, forgive them, for they know what they do!

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

To my imagination she is a gracious princess—to my reason, a scullery maid. The artist lets both roles play concurrently. The Philistine is disappointed and retracts the first.

When someone has behaved like an animal, he says: "I'm only human!" But when he is treated like an animal, he says: "I'm human, too!"

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Women at least have elegant dresses. But what can men use to cover their emptiness?

Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths (1976)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Karl Kraus (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.