Walter Benjamin Professions : Literary critic Born : July 15, 1892 Died : September 26, 1940 Browse All Authors Top 148 quotes by Walter Benjamin The more circumspectly you delay writing down an idea, the more maturely developed it will be on surrendering itself. Walter Benjamin delay writing ideas Thinking involves not only the flow of thoughts, but their arrest as well. Walter Benjamin wells flow thinking We collect books in the belief that we are preserving them when in fact it is the books that preserve their collector. Walter Benjamin belief book facts To be happy is to be able to become aware of oneself without fright. Walter Benjamin fear being-happy happiness These are days when no one should rely unduly on his competence. Strength lies in improvisation. All the decisive blows are struck left-handed. Walter Benjamin blow life lying The experience of our generation: Walter Benjamin our-generation generations natural Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be. Walter Benjamin space unique art The tradition of the oppressed teaches us that the "state of emergency" in which we live is not the exception but the rule. Walter Benjamin emergencies tradition states There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism. Walter Benjamin barbarism documents civilization Taking food alone tends to make one hard and coarse. Those accustomed to it must lead a Spartan life if they are not to go downhill. Hermits have observed, if for only this reason, a frugal diet. For it is only in company that eating is done justice; food must be divided and distributed if it is to be well received. Walter Benjamin done justice food Those who do not learn how to decipher photographs will be the illiterate of the future. Walter Benjamin illiterate learning photograph The work of memory collapses time. Walter Benjamin collapse memories Capitalism is a purely cultic religion, perhaps the most extreme that ever existed. Walter Benjamin extremes capitalism The only way of knowing a person is to love them without hope. Walter Benjamin love relationship friendship The concept of progress must be grounded in the idea of catastrophe. That things are 'status quo' is the catastrophe Walter Benjamin status-quo progress ideas The camera introduces us to unconscious optics as does psychoanalysis to unconscious impulses. Walter Benjamin cameras photography doe All human knowledge takes the form of interpretation. Walter Benjamin interpretation intelligence form Literature tells very little to those who understand it. Walter Benjamin literature littles Work on a good piece of writing proceeds on three levels: a musical one, where it is composed, an architectural one, where it is constructed, and finally a textile one, where it is woven. Walter Benjamin musical woven writing The destructive character lives from the feeling, not that life is worth living, but that suicide is not worth the trouble. Walter Benjamin suicide feelings character Similar Authors Bliss Perry literary-critic Irving Howe literary-critic Diana Trilling literary-critic Daphne Merkin literary-critic Henry Louis Gates literary-critic Harold Bloom literary-critic All Authors
