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Quotes from Half-Truths and One-And-A-Half Truths — Karl Kraus

1874–1936 Austria

← All quotes by Karl Kraus

71 quotes

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)

Many women would like to dream with men without sleeping with them. Someone should point out to them that this is utterly impossible.

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

Since the law prohibits the keeping of wild animals and I get no enjoyment from pets, I prefer to remain unmarried.

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

I and my public understand each other very well: it does not hear what I say, and I don't say what it wants to hear.

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

If I return some people's greetings, I do so only to give them their greeting back.

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

I hear noises which others don't hear and which disturb for me the music of the spheres, which others don't hear either.

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

When I read, it is not acted literature; but what I write is written acting.

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

My language is the common prostitute that I turn into a virgin.

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

Many things I am experiencing I already remember.

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

I like to hold a monologue with women. But a dialogue with myself is more stimulating.

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

A woman is, occasionally, quite a serviceable substitute for masturbation. It takes an abundance of imagination, to be sure.

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

Sound opinions are valueless. What matters is who holds them.

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

Most writers have no other quality than the reader: taste. But the latter has the better taste, because he does not write - and the best if he does not read.

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

There is no doubt that a dog is loyal. But does that mean we should emulate him? After all, he is loyal to people, not to other dogs.

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

"A cigar," said the altruist, "a cigar, my good man, I cannot give you. But any time you need a light, just come round, mine is always lit."

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

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.

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

There is no more unfortunate creature under the sun than a fetishist who yearns for a woman's shoe and has to settle for the whole woman.

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

Nothing is more narrow-minded than chauvinism or race hatred. To me all men are equal: there are jackasses everywhere, and I have the same contempt for them all. No petty prejudices!

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

Many share my views with me. But I don't share them with them.

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.