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Quote by Thomas Mann

“No, not of course at all—it is really all hocus-pocus. The days lengthen in the winter-time, and when the longest comes, the twenty-first of June, the beginning of summer, they begin to go downhill again, toward winter. You call that ‘of course’; but if one once loses hold of the fact that it is of course, it is quite frightening, you feel like hanging on to something. It seems like a practical joke—that spring begins at the beginning of winter, and autumn at the beginning of summer. You feel you’re being fooled, led about in a circle, with your eye fixed on something that turns out to be a moving point. A moving point in a circle. For the circle consists of nothing but such transitional points without any extent whatever; the curvature is incommensurable, there is no duration of motion, and eternity turns out to be not ‘straight ahead’ but ‘merry-go-round’!”

Quote by Thomas Mann

Work

The Magic Mountain

Hermann Hesse's 'The Magic Mountain' is a profound novel that takes place in a Swiss sanatorium in the early 20th century. It follows the protagonist Hans Castorp's extended stay at the institution, where he encounters a diverse array of characters and engages in introspection. The novel delves into themes of personal growth, the nature of time, and the complexities of human relationships. more

Author

Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann

Thomas Mann, born on June 6, 1875, and died on August 12, 1955, was a German novelist and one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Known for his profound psychological portrayals and rich imagination, his works extensively covered themes such as individual and society, history and reality. His masterpieces include 'Buddenbrooks' and 'The Magic Mountain'. more

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“Nada es más fácil para la gente vulgar de inteligencia limitada que suponerse excepcionales y originales y vivir en esta ilusión sin el más leve desengaño. A algunas señoritas rusas les basta cortarse el cabello, ponerse gafas azules y calificarse de nihilistas para suponer, en el acto, que han adquirido «convicciones» propias. A ciertos hombres les basta percibir en su alma el más tenue rayo de amabilidad hacia sus semejantes y de emoción para persuadirse definitivamente de que nadie siente como ellos y resultan la vanguardia en el desarrollo de la humanidad. A algunos les basta oír alguna idea ajena o leer una página determinada para convencerse de que lo oído o leído es su propia opinión, espontáneamente brotada de su cerebro. La insolencia de esta ingenuidad, si cabe expresarse así, es sorprendente en casos de este orden, y por increíble que parezca, tales casos se encuentran muy a menudo.”