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Karl Kraus

Karl Kraus Quotes

Writer

Karl Kraus (April 28, 1874 - June 12, 1936) was an Austrian writer and critic, known for his satirical and critical writing style. He was one of the most important Austrian writers of the early 20th century, particularly renowned for his sharp commentary on society, politics, and culture.

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Famous Karl Kraus Quotes

“If one reads a newspaper only for information, one does not learn the truth, not even the truth about the paper. The truth is that the newspaper is not a statement of contents but the contents themselves; and more than that, it is an instigator.”

Ifs Doe Information Truth Is Paper Newspapers Statements Instigators

Author:Karl Kraus

“I master only the language of others. Mine does with me what it wants.”

Want Doe Language Style Mines Masters

Book:Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

Source: Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

“A good writer does not receive anywhere near the number of poison-pen letters that is commonly assumed. Among a hundred jackassesthere are not ten who will admit to being jackasses, and at most one who will put it in writing.”

Writing Doe Numbers Ten Hundred Letters Poison Pens Good Writers Jackasses

Book:Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

Source: Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

“Humanity and bestiality: when will the former finally be uttered with the flavor of hate and the latter with the flavor of love? Does a lion tear his fellow lion to pieces?”

Doe Hate Humanity Pieces Tears Fellows Former Latter Lions Torn Flavor

Book:Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

Source: Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

“In the theater one must sit in such a way that one sees the audience as a dark mass. Then it cannot bother one more than it does an actor. Nothing is more disturbing than being able to distinguish individuals in the crowd.”

Way Doe Able Actors Individual Dark Audience Mass Theater Crowds Bother Disturbing

Book:Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

Source: Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

“That an author takes a bow is not humility but presumption. What does the paleface want on the stage afterwards? But before the performance he had even less business there--and paying him royalties is equivalent to cheating the actors.”

Want Doe Actors Stage Humility Performances Cheating Bows Royalty Presumption

Book:Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

Source: Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

“Progress celebrates victories over nature. Progress makes purses out of human skin. When people were traveling in mail coaches, the world got ahead better than it does now that salesmen fly through the air. What good is speed if the brain has oozed out on the way? How will the heirs of this age be taught the most basic motions that are necessary to activate the most complicated machines? Nature can rely on progress; it will avenge it for the outrage it has perpetrated on it.”

People Ifs World Way Humans Doe Age Nature Brain Progress Air Taught Victory Skins Machines Complicated Speed Coaches Celebrate Rely Mail Outrage Purses Salesman Heirs Activate

Author:Karl Kraus

“It is better not to express what one means than to express what one does not mean.”

Mean Doe Literature

Book:Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

Source: Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected Aphorisms

“He who does without the praise of the crowd will not deny himself an opportunity to be his own adherent.”

Doe Literature Opportunity Praise Crowds Deny Ethos

Author:Karl Kraus

“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.”

Want Wells Doe Loss Hearing Loss

Book:Dicta and Contradicta

Source: Dicta and Contradicta

About the Author

Born: April 28, 1874
Died: June 12, 1936
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 269

Related Topics

Literature Ifs Men People Writing World Language Art Doe Wells Education Journalist Morality Humans Ideas Knows Lying Reading Way Firsts

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Books & Sources

Half-truths & One-and-a-half Truths: Selected AphorismsRelated source material

Dicta and ContradictaRelated source material

Anti-Freud: Karl Kraus's Criticism of Psychoanalysis and PsychiatryRelated source material

No Compromise: Selected Writings of Karl KrausRelated source material

The Kraus Project: Essays by Karl KrausRelated source material

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