Franz Kafka

There is a goal, but no way; what we call way is hesitation.

The more you are, the more you have to lose.

He is a free and secure citizen of the world, for he is not burdened by any possessions.

The animal wrestles with the human being in me.

I write differently from what I speak, I speak differently from what I think, and I think differently from what I ought to think. And so it all proceeds into deepest darkness.

The books we need are the kind that act upon us like a misfortune, that make us suffer as much as the death of someone we loved more than ourselves.

The chains of tormented mankind are made of office papers.

All human errors are impatience, the premature breaking off of what is methodical, an apparent fencing in of the apparent thing.

Hold fast to the good things of life, and if you cannot, then hold fast to the bad things, and if you cannot, then hold fast to nothing at all.

The only way to deal with the devil is to give him a good kick in the teeth.

The greatest joy is to be able to give.

The world is a terrible place, but it's the only one we have.

I am dirty, Milena, endlessly dirty, which is why I make such a fuss about cleanliness.

The disadvantage of the world is that it is too big for us.

The fact that I am not myself is a great relief.

The only thing that matters is to be true to oneself.

The world is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.

The only way to escape the corruptible effect of praise is to go on working.

The more you know, the more you know you don't know.