Karl Kraus

Austria
28 Apr 1874 // 12 Jun 1936
Writer / Journalist

Quotes

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Journalist: a person without any ideas but with an ability to express them; a writer whose skill is improved by a deadline: the more time he has, the worse he writes
It is the style of idealism to console itself for the loss of something old with the ability to gape at something new
If the reporter has killed our imagination with his truth, he threatens our life with his lies
How is the world ruled and how do wars start? Diplomats tell lies to journalists and then believe what they read
He who does without the praise of the crowd will not deny himself an opportunity to be his own adherent
Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust
Education is a crutch with which the foolish attack the wise to prove that they are not idiots
Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave
Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work
Culture is the tacit agreement to let the means of subsistence disappear behind the purpose of existence. Civilization is the subordination of the latter to the former
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays