Some deny the existence of misery by pointing to the sun; he denies the existence of the sun by pointing to misery.
Franz KafkaRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects a deep sense of isolation and introspection experienced by the author.
In this quote, Franz Kafka expresses the profound sense of alienation and disconnection from others that often accompanies deep self-reflection. He conveys a feeling of being overwhelmed by his own thoughts and emotions to the point where he feels incapable of engaging with the outside world, highlighting the existential struggle of finding meaning and connection in life.
Themes
IsolationIntrospectionAlienationSelf-ReflectionExistentialism
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about mental health and the feelings of loneliness that often accompany it.
More from Franz Kafka
All quotes βOne can disintegrate the world by means of very strong light. For weak eyes the world becomes solid, for still weaker eyes it seems to develop fists, for eyes weaker still it becomes shamefaced and smashes anyone who dares to gaze upon it.
Franz KafkaRead
But Gregor understood easily that it was not only consideration for him which prevented their moving, for he could easily have been transported in a suitable crate with a few air holes; what mainly prevented the family from moving was their complete hopelessness and the thought that they had been struck by a misfortune as none of their relatives and acquaintances had ever been hit.
Franz KafkaRead
Association with human beings lures one into self-observation.
Franz KafkaRead
A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.
Franz KafkaRead
The ulterior motives with which you absorb and assimilate Evil are not your own but those of Evil. _x000D_ The animal wrests the whip from its master and whips itself in order to become master, not knowing that this is only a fantasy produced by a new knot in the master's whiplash.
Franz KafkaRead
Similar quotes
It 's no fish ye 're buying, it 's men's lives.
Walter ScottRead
Dreams are symbolic in order that they cannot be understood; in order that the wish, which is the source of the dream, may remain unknown.
Carl JungRead
One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime. Nor is surrender to the will of God (per se) adequate to fullness of power in Christ. Maturity is the accomplishment of years, and I can only surrender to the will of God as I know what that will is.
Elisabeth ElliotRead
One must live to build one's house, and not build one's house to live in.
Gaston BachelardRead
I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.
Bertrand RussellRead
A statement is persuasive and credible either because it is directly self-evident or because it appears to be proved from other statements that are so.
AristotleRead