Quotes by Franz Kafka

About Franz Kafka:

Franz Kafka was a German-language writer of novels and short stories, regarded by critics as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. Most of his works, such as "Die Verwandlung" ("The Metamorphosis"), Der Process (The Trial), and Das Schloss (The Castle), are filled with the themes and archetypes of alienation, physical and psychological brutality, parent–child conflict, characters on a terrifying quest, labyrinths of bureaucracy, and mystical transformations.
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The thornbush is the old obstacle in the road. It must catch fire if you want to go further.

Franz Kafka

He who seeks does not find, but he who does not seek will be found.

Franz Kafka

Association with human beings lures one into self-observation.

Franz Kafka

One advantage in keeping a diary is that you become aware with reassuring clarity of the changes which you constantly suffer.

Franz Kafka

Hiding places there are innumerable, escape is only one, but possibilities of escape, again, are as many as hiding places.

Franz Kafka

We all have wings, but they have not been of any avail to us and if we could tear them off, we would do so.

Franz Kafka

A book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us.

Franz Kafka

Tyranny or slavery, born of selfishness, are the two educational methods of parents; all gradations of tyranny or slavery.

Franz Kafka

If I shall exist eternally, how shall I exist tomorrow?

Franz Kafka

Don't despair, not even over the fact that you don't despair.

Franz Kafka

One of the first signs of the beginning of understanding is the wish to die.

Franz Kafka

Test yourself on mankind. It is something that makes the doubter doubt, the believer believe.

Franz Kafka

Heaven is dumb, echoing only the dumb.

Franz Kafka

One tells as few lies as possible only by telling as few lies as possible, and not by having the least possible opportunity to do so.

Franz Kafka

The Bible is a sanctum; the world, sputum.

Franz Kafka

No sooner said than done - so acts your man of worth.

Franz Kafka

If it had been possible to build the Tower of Babel without climbing it, it would have been permitted.

Franz Kafka

The spirit becomes free only when it ceases to be a support.

Franz Kafka

The decisive moment in human evolution is perpetual. That is why the revolutionary spiritual movements that declare all former things worthless are in the right, for nothing has yet happened.

Franz Kafka

There is nothing besides a spiritual world; what we call the world of the senses is the Evil in the spiritual world, and what we call Evil is only the necessity of a moment in our eternal evolution.

Franz Kafka

Martyrs do not underrate the body, they allow it to be elevated on the cross. In this they are at one with their antagonists.

Franz Kafka

Author Bio

  • NameFranz Kafka
  • DescriptionAustria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia author
  • BornJuly 3, 1883
  • DiedJune 3, 1924
  • CountryAustria-Hungary
  • ProfessionNovelist; Fabulist; Short Story Writer; Aphorist; Diarist; Writer