Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work.
Karl KrausRead
I and my public understand each other very well: it does not hear what I say, and I don't say what it wants to hear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the disconnect between the speaker and their audience, highlighting a lack of mutual understanding.
Karl Kraus's quote captures the essence of communication barriers between an individual and the public. It suggests that while there may be an apparent surface-level connection, the deeper understanding required for true communication is lacking. The speaker acknowledges that their expressions do not resonate with the audience's expectations or desires, leading to a disconnect that both parties are aware of, yet unable to bridge.
Themes
CommunicationUnderstandingDisconnectPublicAudience
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about artistic integrity, one can use this quote to emphasize the challenges artists face when trying to connect with their audience.
More from Karl Kraus
All quotes βThe mission of the press is to spread culture while destroying the attention span.
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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.
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Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match.
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Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust.
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Sexuality poorly repressed unsettles some families; well repressed, it unsettles the whole world.
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