He is a free and secure citizen of the world because he is on a chain that is long enough to allow him access to all parts of the earth, and yet not so long that he could be swept over the edge of it. Franz Kafka More Quotes by Franz Kafka More Quotes From Franz Kafka In the fight between you and the world, back the world. Franz Kafka fighting literature funny My job is unbearable to me because it conflicts with my only desire and my only calling, which is literature. Since I am nothing but literature and can and want to be nothing else, my job will never take possession of me, it may, however, shatter me completely, and this is by no means a remote possibility. Franz Kafka desire jobs mean Idleness is the beginning of all vice, the crown of all virtues. Franz Kafka crowns vices literature Association with human beings lures one into self-observation. Franz Kafka association literature self Written kisses never arrive at their destination; the ghosts drink them up along the way. Franz Kafka kissing ghost way The limited circle is pure. Franz Kafka hilarious pure circles A book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us. Franz Kafka library sea book Expulsion from Paradise is in its main aspect eternal: that is to say, although expulsion from Paradise is final, and life in theworld unavoidable, the eternity of the process (or, expressed in temporal terms, the eternal repetition of the process) nevertheless makes it possible not only that we might remain in Paradise permanently, but that we may in fact be there permanently, no matter whether we know it here or not. Franz Kafka may time might When one has once accepted and absorbed Evil, it no longer demands to be believed. Franz Kafka accepted demand evil The thornbush is the old obstacle in the road. It must catch fire if you want to go further. Franz Kafka literature fire want One has just been sent out as a biblical dove, has found nothing green, and slips back into the darkness of the Ark Franz Kafka biblical green darkness In Paradise, as always: that which causes the sin and that which recognizes it for what it is are one. The clear conscience is Evil, which is so entirely victorious that it does not any longer consider the leap from left to right necessary. Franz Kafka paradise evil doe What if I slept a little more and forgot about all this nonsense. Franz Kafka nonsense what-if littles If the book we are reading does not wake us, as with a fist hammering on our skull, why then do we read it? Franz Kafka skulls reading book I made the remark that I don't avoid people in order to live quietly, but rather in order to be able to die quietly. Franz Kafka able order people He who does not answer the questions has passed the test. Franz Kafka tests answers doe A stair not worn hollow by footsteps is, regarded from its own point of view, only a boring something made of wood. Franz Kafka woods boring views Always first draw fresh breath after outbursts of vanity and complacency. Franz Kafka complacency vanity literature The experience of life consists of the experience which the spirit has of itself in matter and as matter, in mind and as mind, in emotion, as emotion, etc. Franz Kafka spiritual mind life One must fight to get to the top, especially if one starts at the bottom. Franz Kafka bottom fighting ifs