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Robert Musil Quotes

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Robert Musil, born on November 6, 1880, and died on April 15, 1942, was one of the greatest German novelists of the 20th century. He is renowned for his profound psychological portrayals and philosophical reflections in his works.

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Famous Robert Musil Quotes

“For a long time now a hint of aversion had lain on everything he did and experienced, a shadow of impotence and loneliness, an all-encompassing distaste for which he could not find the complementary inclination. He felt at times as though he had been born with a talent for which there was at present no objective.”

Philosophy Literature Genius

Book:The Man Without Qualities: Volume I

Source: The Man Without Qualities: Volume I

“We sometimes have a flash of understanding that amounts to the insight of genius, and yet it slowly withers, even in our hands - like a flower. The form remains, but the colours and the fragrance are gone.”

Sometimes Hands Form Understanding Gone Flower Amount Genius Remains Insight Colour Flash Fragrance

Author:Robert Musil

“... the genius never makes anything new, but always something that is just different, and the average talents provide him the possibility within which his genius condenses into achievements.”

Different Talent Possibility Genius Achievement Average

Book:Precision and Soul: Essays and Addresses

Source: Precision and Soul: Essays and Addresses

“It's not the genius who is 100 years ahead of his time but average man who is 100 years behind it.”

Men Years Behinds Genius Average Average Man

Author:Robert Musil

“A particularly fine head on a man usually means that he is stupid; particularly deep philosophers are usually shallow thinkers; in literature, talents not much above the average are usually regarded by their contemporaries as geniuses.”

Men Mean Literature Talent Stupid Fine Genius Average Philosopher Thinker Shallow

Book:The Man Without Qualities: Picador Classic

Source: The Man Without Qualities: Picador Classic

About the Author

Born: November 6, 1880
Died: April 15, 1942
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 112

Books & Sources

the Man Without QualitiesRelated source material

Precision and Soul: Essays and AddressesRelated source material

The Man Without Qualities: Picador ClassicRelated source material

Posthumous Papers of a Living AuthorRelated source material

The Man Without Qualities: Volume IRelated source material

Five WomenRelated source material

The Confusions of Young TörlessRelated source material

Der Mann ohne EigenschaftenRelated source material

Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften: Erstes BuchRelated source material

Die Verwirrungen des Zöglings TörleßRelated source material

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