Home / Quotes / Quote by Stefan Zweig

Quote by Stefan Zweig

“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.”

Quote by Stefan Zweig

Author

Stefan Zweig, born on November 28, 1881 in Vienna, was an Austrian novelist, playwright, and biographer. Known for his profound psychological insights and unique narrative style, he is a significant figure in European literature at the beginning of the 20th century. more

You May Also Like

“With Nietzsche, the black pirates' flag appears for the first time on the high sea of German knowledge. (He is) a different man, from a different race, (his,) a new kind of heroism, philosophywith bellicose weapons and armor.”

Men Firsts Kind Different Black Race Knowledge Sea Weapons First Time Philosophical Flags Heroism Pirate Armor Different Races High Seas

Author:Stefan Zweig

“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.”

Source: Stefan and Friderike Zweig: their correspondence, 1912-1942

“But, in history, practical usefulness never determines the moral value of an achievement. Only the person who increases the knowledge humanity has about itself and enhances its creative consciousness permanently enriches humanity.”

Persons Values Humanity Consciousness Moral Knowledge Creative Achievement Increase Determine Practicals Usefulness Moral Values

Author:Stefan Zweig

“Art knows no happier moment than the opportunity to show the symmetry of an extreme, during that moment of spheric harmony when the dissonance dissolves for the blink of an eye, dissolves into a blissful harmony, when the most extreme opposites, coming together from the greatest alienation, fleetingly touch with lips of the word and of love.”

Knows Art Moments Shows Eye Together Opportunity Opposites Harmony Lips Extremes That Moment Alienation Blink Symmetry Coming Together Dissonance Blink Of An Eye

Author:Stefan Zweig

“Nothing that has ever been thought and said with a clear mind and pure ethical strength is totally in vain; even if it comes froma weak hand and is imperfectly formed, it inspires the ethical spirit to constantly renewed creation.”

Ifs Inspirational Mind Said Hands Spirit Clear Creation Inspire Pure Weak Vain Ethical Clear Minds

Author:Stefan Zweig

“He who has been impoverished for a long timewho has long stood before the door of the mighty in darkness and begged for alms,has filled his heart with bitterness so that it resembles a sponge full of gall; he knows about the injustice and folly of all human action and sometimes his lips tremble with rage and a stifled scream.”

Knows Humans Heart Long Has Beens Sometimes Action Darkness Doors Filled Injustice Lips Rage Folly Bitterness Scream Sponges Alms Human Actions

Author:Stefan Zweig

“Only the rare expands our minds, only as we shudder in the face of a new force do our feelings increase. Therefore the extraordinary is always the measure of all greatness. And the creative element always remains the value superior to all others and the mind superior to our minds.”

Mind Feelings Faces Values Force Creativity Creative Greatness Elements Increase Remains Extraordinary Superiors

Author:Stefan Zweig

“But the creative person is subject to a different, higher law than mere national law. Whoever has to create a work, whoever has tobring about a discovery or deed which will further the cause of all of humanity, no longer has his home in his native land but rather in his work.”

Persons Different Home Law Humanity Causes Creativity Creative Land Subjects Higher Discovery Mere Deeds Native Creative Person Native Land Higher Law

Author:Stefan Zweig

“The transformation of the impossible into reality is always the mark of a demonic will. The only way to recognize a military genius is by the fact that, during the war, he will mock the rules of warfare and will employ creative improvisation instead of tested methods and he will do so at the right moment.”

Way War Moments Facts Reality Creativity Creative Impossible Military Genius Victory Mark Transformation Method Warfare Tested Improvisation Mock Demonic Right Moment

Author:Stefan Zweig

“We can't forever be spending our lives paying for political follies that never gave us anything but always took from us, and I amcontent with the narrowest metes and bounds provided I have peace and quiet for work.”

Political Politics Forever Our Lives Quiet Bounds Spending Folly Contentment Peace And Quiet

Book:Stefan and Friderike Zweig: their correspondence, 1912-1942

Source: Stefan and Friderike Zweig: their correspondence, 1912-1942