19 Quotes & Sayings By Karl Kraus

Karl Kraus was born on October 3, 1874, in Vienna. He died there on December 3, 1936. As one of the great satirists of the twentieth century, he was friends with Freud, Kafka, Einstein and Thomas Mann. He was a prolific writer who wrote for various newspapers and periodicals including Die Fackel, Das Tage-blatt, Die Zukunft, the Wiener Library, and the satirical journal Die Weltbuhne Read more

Kraus is famous for his series of essays "Die Unwahrheit" (The Truth) which were published in the weekly Der Kunstwart (Art' Man) between 1912 and 1914. The essays are collected by Hansjakob Moser in his book "Der Kunstwart 1914-1917" (published by Julius Berger in 1962). Also collected are Kraus' essays "Die Kunst des Lesens", "Das Schulgeld" (School Fees) and "Das Rachengedicht" (The Poem of Revenge).

Kraus's other works include: Der gute Ratgeber ("The Good Adviser"), Der unglückliche Prinz ("The Ugly Prince"), Der fremde Mensch ("The Stranger") and Nackt unter Wölfen ("Naked Among Wolves").

1
The devil is an optimist if he thinks he can make people worse than they are. Karl Kraus
How is the world ruled and led to war? Diplomats...
2
How is the world ruled and led to war? Diplomats lie to journalists and believe these lies when they see them in print. Karl Kraus
War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the...
3
War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost. Karl Kraus
Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave.
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Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave. Karl Kraus
A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.
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A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful. Karl Kraus
6
Chastity always takes its toll. In some it produces pimples; in others, sex laws. Karl Kraus
7
A writer is someone who can make a riddle out of an answer. Karl Kraus
8
The world is a prison in which solitary confinement is preferable. Karl Kraus
9
My language is the common prostitute that I turn into a virgin. Karl Kraus
10
In case of doubt decide in favor of what is correct. Karl Kraus
11
Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match. Karl Kraus
12
He who gladly does without the praise of the crowd will not miss the opportunity of becoming his own fan. Karl Kraus
13
No ideas and the ability to express them - that's a journalist. Karl Kraus
14
Science is spectral analysis. Art is light synthesis. Karl Kraus
15
Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust. Karl Kraus
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Jealousy is a dog's bark which attracts thieves. Karl Kraus
17
If the reporter has killed our imagination with his truth, he threatens our life with his lies. Karl Kraus
18
Sex education is legitimate in that girls cannot be taught soon enough how children don't come into the world. Karl Kraus