Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work.
To me all men are equal: there are jackasses everywhere, and I have the same contempt for them all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the idea that people are judged equally, regardless of their status, revealing a universal disdain for mediocrity.
Karl Kraus's statement emphasizes that he sees all individuals as equal, highlighting his disdain for foolishness found in all walks of life. The quote suggests that intelligence, integrity, or lack thereof are not confined to social classes, portraying a strong contempt for ignorance regardless of its source. It reflects the idea that human flaws are universally present, and Kraus applies the same standard of judgment to everyone.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on equality in society, this quote can be used to emphasize the universal flaws in human character.
More from Karl Kraus
All quotes βThe mission of the press is to spread culture while destroying the attention span.
War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost.
Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match.
Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust.
Sexuality poorly repressed unsettles some families; well repressed, it unsettles the whole world.
Similar quotes
There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.
It is never on account of its formal nature as a psychic act that faith is conceived in Scripture to be saving. It is not, strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ that saves through faith. The saving power resides exclusively, not in the act of faith or the attitude of faith or nature of faith, but in the object of faith.
You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well.
Black racism is a myth created by whites to ease their guilt feelings. As long as whites can be assured that blacks are racists, they can find reasons to justify their own oppression ofβ black people.
People always clap for the wrong reasons.
Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities.