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
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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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