I would love to be able to write a tragedy in my imagination--it would turn into a masterpiece. Franz Grillparzer More Quotes by Franz Grillparzer More Quotes From Franz Grillparzer Captivating the spirit of the age is a matter of great talent; being swept away by it characterizes an average mind. The two are as different from one another as activity and passivity. Franz Grillparzer mindaveragetwo A person who looks different all the time frightens me. Only one animal changes its skin: the snake. Franz Grillparzer snakesskinsanimal The art of acting presupposes three phases: understanding a part, intuiting a part, and contemplating the essence of a part. Franz Grillparzer understandingessenceart As far as the arts and the sciences are concerned, the German mind appreciates most highly that which it does not understand of the latter, and that which it does not enjoy of the former. Franz Grillparzer appreciateunderstandingart Do old people always live in the past? What yesterday was firm and true, may not be so today. Franz Grillparzer truthyesterdaypast The military and the clergy cause us much annoyance; the clergy and the military, they empty our wallets and rob our intelligence. Franz Grillparzer emptycausesmilitary The way in which modern German poetry follows theories reminds me of pupils who, scolded by their teacher for their insubordination, justify themselves by saying that they invented new rules of propriety according to which they are quite well- behaved. Franz Grillparzer poetryteacherway Whoever considers morality the main objective of human existence, seems to me like a person who defines the purpose of a clock asnot going wrong. The first objective for a clock, is, however, that it does run; not going wrong is an additional regulative function. If not a watch's greatest accomplishment were not going wrong, unwound watches might be the best. Franz Grillparzer prioritiesaccomplishmentrunning I am a woman, and even if I could proceed with harshness and rigidity, it would disgust me nonetheless. Franz Grillparzer rigiditydisgustingwomen Drive the women from the bed just as you drove them from the choir; a eunuch sings in Rome, and the priests masturbate. Franz Grillparzer romewomenbed Man will return to his origins. Goethe has finally become as squiggly as the city of his fathers. Franz Grillparzer citiesmenfather You ardently strive for freedom, and I do wish you were free--but, rather than for your sake, so that government won't be. Franz Grillparzer freedomgovernmentwish A pious woman's neighbor, a philanthropist's child, a liberal's servant--these three have a hard life. Franz Grillparzer hard-lifehypocrisychildren Those whom the gods chose as their property must not consort with mortals. Franz Grillparzer propertyexcellenceloneliness The ramparts of Vienna are crumbling into the sand; no one wants to live so confined, however, the entire country is already surrounded by a Chinese wall! Franz Grillparzer chinesewallcountry In order to succeed in a profession, a person not only needs to have its good, but also its bad qualities. The former are the spirit, the latter is the body of the job. Franz Grillparzer successjobsorder An uprising would punish only the country, and that is out of the question. But there is yet another approach, the most effectiveform of resistance: contemptuous compliance. Franz Grillparzer uprisingresistancecountry Strength, strength alone, is honorable, the German nation clamors in its majesty. But since it is hard to muster strength so suddenly, they have to make do with boorishness. Franz Grillparzer clamormajestystrength Do hurry and proclaim the concordat. Then castrate yourselves to keep from sinning. Franz Grillparzer chastitysinningsin As far as the arts and the sciences are concerned, the German mind appreciates most highly that which it does not understand of the latter, and that which it does not enjoy of the former. Franz Grillparzer appreciateunderstandingart
