More from Franz Kafka
Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka It certainly was not my intention to make you suffer, yet I have done so; obviously it never will be my intention to make you suffer, yet I shall always do so.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka I have spent all my life resisting the desire to end it.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Better to have, and not need, than to need, and not have.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Kill me, or you are a murderer.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Was he an animal, that music could move him so? He felt as if the way to the unknown nourishment he longed for were coming to light.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka I’m doing badly, I’m doing well, whichever you prefer.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Should I be grateful or should I curse the fact that despite all misfortune I can still feel love, an unearthly love but still for earthly objects.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka I do not speak as I think, I do not think as I should, and so it all goes on in helpless darkness.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Love is, that you are the knife which I plunge into myself.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka He was a tool of the boss, without brains or backbone.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you any more.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Even the merest gesture is holy if it is filled with faith.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka
Original quotes
From our community writers
In this wilderness, Mankind is the animal I fear.
Addison SchmittAddison Schmitt The irony is that he broke the only person he never wanted to hurt.
Krishan PandeyKrishan Pandey I will wait, I am waiting, and I will love you with all the love I posses until this body is ash and I begin my search for you again.
Tyler Knott GregsonTyler Knott Gregson Nothing is permanent not even your pain.
Taj AroraTaj Arora Do not insist me to let you go, you come half hearted like a crescent moon, and you go heart-filled like a full moon which glows.
Nikita GandhiNikita Gandhi I want to fold you into my book, like a petal, so that you’d never leave.
Mira R. AridiMira R. Aridi It seems strange how we look in the same mirror, yet what stares back, is so painfully different.
Chris AllchinChris Allchin Do not measure yourself by success, failure, or a degree. Measure your life by the dreams you have.
Natalie MooneyNatalie Mooney
Meet the writers
More on life
You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?
RumiRumi Most of us, no matter what we say, are walking in the dark, whistling in the dark.
James BaldwinJames Baldwin If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.
Malcolm XMalcolm X Misfortunes never come singly.
Anne FrankAnne Frank The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.
Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho He who robs us of our dreams robs us of our life.
Virginia WoolfVirginia Woolf When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.
Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Vincent Van GoghVincent Van Gogh
