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Stefan Zweig

Stefan Zweig Quotes

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Famous Stefan Zweig Quotes

“The instinct of self-deception in human beings makes them try to banish from their minds dangers of which at the bottom they are perfectly aware by declaring them nonexistent, and a warning such as mine against cheap optimism was bound to prove particularly unwelcome at a moment when a sumptuously laid supper was awaiting for us in the next room.”

HumanityHuman BeingsAwarenessDangerFoodOptimismInstinctAbundanceWarningCowardiceSelf DeceptionSupperAwareUnwelcomeDangersAwaitingBanishNonexistentCheap Optimism
Book:Beware of Pity
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“Again and again, faith in a possible satisfaction of the human race breaks through at the very moments of most zealous discord because humankind will never be able to live and work without this consoling delusion of its ascent into morality, without this dream of final and ultimate accord.”

HumansMomentsDreamAbleFaithHumanityPeaceRaceBreakMoralityUltimateFinalsSatisfactionHuman RaceDelusionHumankindAgain And AgainAccordBreak ThroughDiscordAscentZealousConsoling
Author:Stefan Zweig
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“In their overestimation of the role of civilization, the humanists misunderstand the primary forces of the world of primitive human drives with their untamable violence. With their optimistic view of the role of culture, they (the humanists) trivialize the terrifying, hardly solvable problems of mass hatred and of the great passionate psychoses of the human race.”

WorldHumansProblemHateHumanityCultureForceViewsRaceRolesViolenceCivilizationMassHatredPassionateOptimisticPrimariesHuman RacePrimitivePsychosisGreat Passion
Author:Stefan Zweig
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“But nothing is better than a truth which appears not to have the semblance of truth. There is always something incomprehensible about the great heroic deeds performed by humanity because they rise so far beyond the mediocre measure of mere mortals; but it is always only because of the incredible feats that human beings have accomplished that humanity recovers its faith in itself.”

HumansTruthHumanityHuman BeingsMereIncrediblesDeedsMortalsAccomplishedHeroicMediocreFeatsSemblanceMere MortalsHeroic Deeds
Author:Stefan Zweig
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“This is the first time in history that a war has involved the whole world, and also it may last many years more; this thought is soul-shattering for all of us as human beings. It is horrible to think that the crimes committed by this one man Hitler have these many years been destroying the lives of hundreds of thousands and millions, and one would despair entirely were it not certain that the majority, the innumerable majority which opposes him openly or secretly, will succeed in wiping out once and for all him and his.”

ThinkingMenWorldLifeYearsFirstsHumansMayWarSoulWholeLastsCertainHumanityHuman BeingsMillionsCrimeInvolvedSucceedDespairFirst TimeMajorityCommittedWhole WorldHorribleOne ManDestroyingShatteringWiping Out
Book:Stefan and Friderike Zweig: their correspondence, 1912-1942
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“The greater part of our best years has been passed for our generation in these two great worldconvulsions. All will be changed after this war, which spends in one month more than nations earned before in yearsthere is no more security in our time than in those of the Reformation or the fall of Rome.”

YearsHas BeensTwoWarHumanityFallNationsGreaterGenerationsSecurityChangedMonthsDestructionOur TimeRomeReformationOur GenerationBest YearFall Of Rome
Author:Stefan Zweig
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“Hearing, seeing and understanding each other, humanity from one end of the earth to the other now lives simultaneously, omnipresent like a god thanks to its own creative ability. And, thanks to its victory over space and time, it would now be splendidly united for all time, if it were not confused again and again by that fatal delusion which causes humankind to keep on destroying this grandiose unity and to destroy itself with the same resources which gave it power over the elements.”

IfsEndsEarthHumanityCausesUnderstandingAbilitySpaceUnitedCreativeSeeingVictoryElementsResourcesDestructionUnityHearingAll TimeThanksConfusedDelusionDestroyingHumankindAgain And AgainTime And SpaceGrandioseUnderstanding Each Other
Author:Stefan Zweig
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“As nature requires whirlwinds and cyclones to release its excessive force in a violent revolt against its own existence, so the spirit requires a demonic human being from time to time whose excessive strength rebels against the community of thought and the monotony of moralityonly by looking at those beyond its limits does humanity come to know its own utmost limits.”

KnowsHumansDoeSpiritHumanityForceCommunityHuman BeingsExistenceProgressLimitsViolentReleaseRebelRevoltMonotonyDemonicCyclonesExcessive Force
Author:Stefan Zweig
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