You can hold yourself back from the sufferings of the world, that is something you are free to do and it accords with your nature, but perhaps this very holding back is the one suffering you could avoid. Franz Kafka More Quotes by Franz Kafka More Quotes From Franz Kafka My doubts stand in a circle around every word, I see them before I see the word, but what then! I do not see the word at all, I invent it. Franz Kafka circles doubt I stand on the end platform of the tram and am completely unsure of my footing in this world, in this town, in my family. Not even casually could I indicate any claims that I might rightly advance in any direction. I have not even any defense to offer for standing on this platform, holding on to this strap, letting myself be carried along by this tram, nor for the people who give way to the tram or walk quietly along or stand gazing into shop windows. Nobody asks me to put up a defense, indeed, but that is irrelevant. Franz Kafka defense giving people What am I doing here in this endless winter? Franz Kafka endless winter The observer of the soul cannot penetrate into the soul, but there doubtless is a margin where he comes into contact with it. Recognition of this contact is the fact that even the soul does not know of itself. Hence it must remain unknown. That would be sad only if there were anything apart from the soul, but there is nothing else. Franz Kafka soul would-be doe I am too tired, I must try to rest and sleep, otherwise I am lost in every respect. What an effort to keep alive! Erecting a monument does not require an expenditure of so much strength. Franz Kafka effort tired sleep I am a retiring, silent, unsociable, and discontent person. Franz Kafka retiring discontent silent April 27. Incapable of living with people, of speaking. Complete immersion in myself, thinking of myself. Apathetic, witless, fearful. I have nothing to say to anyone - never. Franz Kafka april people thinking Either the world is so tiny or we are enormous; in either case, we fill it completely. Franz Kafka tiny cases world To every instant there is a correspondence in something outside time. This world here and now cannot be followed by a Beyond, for the Beyond is eternal, hence it cannot be in temporal contact with this world here and now. Franz Kafka here-and-now contact world In a way, I was safe writing Franz Kafka safe writing way There will be no proof that I ever was a writer. Franz Kafka proof A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night. Franz Kafka dark winter night A book should serve as an axe to the ice inside us. Franz Kafka ice should book Every one of us has a bad conscience, which he tries to escape by going to sleep as quickly as possible. Franz Kafka going-to-sleep sleep trying Every word first looks around in every direction before letting itself be written down by me. Franz Kafka written looks firsts This noble body, equipped with everything necessary, almost to the point of bursting, also appeared to carry freedom around with it. Franz Kafka bursting noble body 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 citizens long world Because of impatience we were driven out [of Paradise]; because of impatience we cannot return. Franz Kafka paradise driven return Why do we complain about the Fall? It is not on its account that we were expelled from Paradise, but on account of the Tree of Life, lest we might eat of it. Franz Kafka complaining tree fall To write prescriptions is easy, but to come to an understanding with people is hard. Franz Kafka understanding writing people
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