Sometimes I think I can expiate all my past and future sins through the aching of my bones. Franz Kafka More Quotes by Franz Kafka More Quotes From Franz Kafka We need the books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us. Franz Kafka suicide grieving book Being alone has a power over me that never fails. My interior dissolves (for the time being only superficially) and is ready to release what lies deeper. When I am willfully alone, a slight ordering of my interior begins to take place and I need nothing more. Franz Kafka failing lying needs We live in an age which is so possessed by demons, that soon we shall only be able to do goodness and justice in the deepest secrecy, as if it were a crime. Franz Kafka able age justice Photography concentrates one's eye on the superficial. For that reason it obscures the hidden life which glimmers through the outlines of things like a play of light and shade. One can't catch that even with the sharpest lens. Franz Kafka light eye photography We are sinful not only because we have eaten of the Tree of Knowledge, but also because we have not yet eaten of the Tree of Life. The state in which we are is sinful, irrespective of guilt. Franz Kafka states guilt tree Please — consider me a dream. Franz Kafka please dream Anything that has real and lasting value is always a gift from within. Franz Kafka lasting real inspirational I have spent my life resisting the desire to end it. Franz Kafka resisting ends desire You are so vulnerably haunting. Your eeriness is terrifyingly irresistible. Franz Kafka haunting irresistible The Fathers of the Church were not afraid to go out into the desert because they had a richness in their hearts. But we, with richness all around us, are afraid, because the desert is in our hearts. Franz Kafka church heart father Not everyone can see the truth, but he can be it. Franz Kafka literature The Bible is a sanctum; the world, sputum. Franz Kafka literature world You are at once both the quiet and the confusion of my heart. Franz Kafka confusion heart quiet The purpose of a story is to be an axe that breaks up the ice within us. Franz Kafka ice purpose stories I do not read advertisements. I would spend all of my time wanting things. Franz Kafka advertisements advertising want Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self. Franz Kafka reading inspirational book I am always trying to convey something that can’t be conveyed, to explain something which is inexplicable, to tell about something I have in my bones, something which can be expressed only in the bones. Franz Kafka bones always-trying trying I never wish to be easily defined. Franz Kafka defined wish If you become involved with me, you will be throwing yourself into the abyss. Franz Kafka abyss involved throwing Man cannot live without a continuous confidence in something indestructible within himself. Franz Kafka indestructible men