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A writer is someone who can make a riddle out of an answer.
Karl Kraus
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Interpretation

What this quote means

A writer transforms simple truths into complex ideas through their creativity.

This quote by Karl Kraus suggests that a writer possesses the unique ability to take straightforward answers and imbue them with layers of meaning, crafting riddles that provoke thought and invite interpretation. This reflects the artistic nature of writing, where conveying a message can often involve turning the simple into the intricate, encouraging readers to look beyond the surface.

Themes

WriterRiddleCreativityArtMeaning

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote in a writing workshop to inspire participants about the creative process.

More from Karl Kraus

Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work.
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The 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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