More from Franz Kafka
I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Please — consider me a dream.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka We photograph things in order to drive them out of our minds. My stories are a way of shutting my eyes.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Do you know, darling? When you became involved with others you quite possibly stepped down a level or two, but If you become involved with me, you will be throwing yourself into the abyss.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Hold fast to the diary from today on! Write regularly! Don’t surrender! Even if no salvation should come, I want to be worthy of it every moment.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Slept, awoke, slept, awoke, miserable life.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka Love is a drama of contradictions.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka It would have been so pointless to kill himself that, even if he had wanted to, the pointlessness would have made him unable.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka You only need to change your direction, said the cat, and ate it up.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka People label themselves with all sorts of adjectives. I can only pronounce myself as ‘nauseatingly miserable beyond repair’.
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.
Franz KafkaFranz 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
Original quotes
From our community writers
Even with broken wings, she dares to fly. And even with a broken heart, she dares to love.
Divya khandalDivya khandal And I refuse to apologize until the very end for the way that I feel – my feelings are valid too.
Carmen AmadosCarmen Amados Contemplate your own mortality daily, then see how much we must change.
Chris AllchinChris Allchin Poetry is the voice of the soul and the inspiration of the heart.
Teresa PeresTeresa Peres We parted sadly, like children in the street on a pleasant june afternoon.
Iestyn TudorIestyn Tudor And what shall I call you? Yours. In this life, the ones before, and all others thereafter.
Alexandra MichelleAlexandra Michelle If I could go back to a time I’d be with you. And I’d thank you again for almost being the healing to my heart.
Aimee C. HoveyAimee C. Hovey I was a living breathing nightmare and he was my favorite dream catcher.
Juwairiyyah OlgarJuwairiyyah Olgar
Meet the writers
More on inspirational
The rain that’s been so heavy, is only a reminder of the harvest that’s coming.
Cailin HargreavesCailin Hargreaves Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses.
OvidOvid If I were dropped out of a plane into the ocean and told the nearest land was a thousand miles away, I’d still swim. And I’d despise the one who gave up.
Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.
Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow Forgiveness is a way of opening up the doors again and moving forward, whether it’s a personal life or a national life.
Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton At times it is folly to hasten at other times, to delay. The wise do everything in its proper time.
OvidOvid God himself helps those who dare.
OvidOvid If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
W. C. FieldsW. C. Fields