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Quote by Franz Kafka

Work

The Zürau Aphorisms

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Author

Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka (July 3, 1883 - June 3, 1924) was an important German-language novelist of the 20th century, known for his unique literary style and profound philosophical thoughts. His works, often themed around loneliness, alienation, and existentialism, have had a profound impact on literature and philosophy. more

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“Есть два главных человеческих греха, из которых вытекают все прочие: нетерпение и небрежность. Из-за нетерпения люди изгнаны из рая, из-за небрежности они не возвращаются туда. А может быть, есть только один главный грех: нетерпение. Из-за нетерпения изгнаны, из-за нетерпения не возвращаются.”

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' These men without possessions or power, these strangers on Earth, these sinners, these followers of Jesus, have in their life with him renounced their own dignity, for they are merciful. As if their own needs and their own distress were not enough, they take upon themselves the distress and humiliation of others. They have an irresistible love for the down-trodden, the sick, the wretched, the wronged, the outcast and all who are tortured with anxiety. They go out and seek all who are enmeshed in the toils of sin and guilt. No distress is too great, no sin too appalling for their pity. If any man falls into disgrace, the merciful will sacrifice their own honour to shield him, and take his shame upon themselves.”

“One of the effects of original sin is an instinctive prejudice in favour of our own selfish desires. We see things as they are not, because we see them centered on ourselves. Fear, anxiety, greed, ambition and our hopeless need for pleasure all distort the image of reality that is reflected in our minds. Grace does not completely correct this distortion all at once: but it gives us a means of recognizing and allowing for it. And it tells us what we must do to correct it. Sincerity must be bought at a price: the humility to recognize our innumerable errors, and fidelity in tirelessly setting them right.”

“I could keep him in place with the weight of a fingertip, I think. Very gently, very carefully, I curl the hand on his chest into the fabric of his biosuit, tugging him ever so slowly toward me. My cheeks are streaked with dried tears, and I can see every shade of violet in his eyes, the line of blood across his cheek where a shard of the exploding Trigger cut it. And as our helmets touch, we’re so close I can count his eyelashes. And he holds still for me. “I don’t know what comes next,” I say softly. “But why don’t we see where this path leads us? Let’s just find out together.”