Hugo Ball Quotes

Author

Hugo Ball was a German author known for his surrealistic poetry and dramatic works. His works were characterized by strong visual and auditory elements, which had a profound impact on 20th-century literature.

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All Dada Art Dadaism Absorption Age Artist Avant Garde Beautiful Concern Consequence

Famous Hugo Ball Quotes

“Every word that is spoken and sung here (the Cabaret Voltaire) represents at least this one thing: that this humiliating age has not succeeded in winning our respect.”

Respect Disgust Dada

Author:Hugo Ball

“The artist’s secret lies in fear and awe. Our times have turned them into terror and dismay.”

Art Artist Fear Terror Modern Life Dismay

Book:Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

Source: Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

“Why can't a tree be called Pluplusch?”

Art Avant Garde Manifesto Dada Dadaism

Author:Hugo Ball

“Punctuality can go to the devil.”

Humor Dada Tardy

Book:Flametti, or The Dandyism of the Poor

Source: Flametti, or The Dandyism of the Poor

“Oh, this century of glowing light and barbed wire, primordial strength and abyss!”

Dada Dadaism

Book:Ball and Hammer: Hugo Ball's Tenderenda the Fantast

Source: Ball and Hammer: Hugo Ball's Tenderenda the Fantast

“It's inspiration that counts, not the drill.”

Inspiration Drills

Author:Hugo Ball

“No such thing as humanity without flaws.”

Humanity Flaws

Author:Hugo Ball

“The symbolic view of things is a consequence of long absorption in images. Is sign language the real language of Paradise?”

Long Real Language Views Consequence Symbols Paradise Symbolic Absorption Sign Language

Book:Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

Source: Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

“We should burn all libraries and allow to remain only that which everyone knows by heart. A beautiful age of the legend would then begin.”

Knows Should Heart Age Beautiful Library Legends

Author:Hugo Ball

“What is generally termed reality is, to be precise, a frothy nothing.”

Reality Precise

Author:Hugo Ball

“I don't want words that other people have invented. All the words are other people's inventions. I want my own stuff, my own rhythm, and vowels and consonants too, matching the rhythm and all my own.”

People Want Stuff My Own Invention Rhythm Matching Vowels Consonants

Book:Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

Source: Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

“Each thing has its word, but the word has become a thing by itself. Why shouldn't I find it? Why can't a tree be called Pluplusch, and Pluplubasch when it has been raining? The word, the word, the word outside your domain, your stuffiness, this laughable impotence, your stupendous smugness, outside all the parrotry of your self-evident limitedness. The word, gentlemen, is a public concern of the first importance.”

Firsts Has Beens Self Tree Rain Concern Importance Gentleman Evident Domain Impotence Laughable Smugness

Book:Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

Source: Flight Out of Time: A Dada Diary

“Everywhere, the ethical predicament of our time imposes itself with an urgency which suggests that even the question Have we anything to eat? will be answered not in material but in ethical terms.”

Term Materials Morality Ethics Our Time Ethical Urgency Predicaments

Author:Hugo Ball

About the Author

Born: February 22, 1886
Died: September 14, 1927
Known for: Author
Quotes: 13

Books & Sources

Flight Out of Time: A Dada DiaryRelated source material

Ball and Hammer: Hugo Ball's Tenderenda the FantastRelated source material

Flametti, or The Dandyism of the PoorRelated source material

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