Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work.
Karl KrausRead
Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stupidity is a powerful and destructive force that can surpass natural disasters.
Karl Kraus suggests that stupidity, as a fundamental force of human nature, can cause more chaos and destruction than even the most catastrophic natural events. This highlights the idea that the consequences of foolishness and ignorance can be deeply impactful and sometimes more damaging than physical calamities.
Themes
StupidityForceDestructionChaosIgnorance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on education reform, one might say: 'As Karl Kraus wisely pointed out, stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match.'
More from Karl Kraus
All quotes →The mission of the press is to spread culture while destroying the attention span.
Karl KrausRead
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.
Karl KrausRead
Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust.
Karl KrausRead
Sexuality poorly repressed unsettles some families; well repressed, it unsettles the whole world.
Karl KrausRead
My unconscious knows more about the consciousness of the psychologist than his consciousness knows about my unconscious.
Karl KrausRead
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The most peaceful thing in the world is plowing a field. Chances are you’ll do your best thinking that way. And that’s why I’ve always thought and said, farmers are the smartest people in the world, they don’t go for high hats and they can spot a phony a mile off.
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