Some deny the existence of misery by pointing to the sun; he denies the existence of the sun by pointing to misery.
Franz KafkaRead
We need the books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the profound emotional impact that books can have on us, likening their influence to catastrophic events or deep personal loss.
Franz Kafka's quote suggests that literature serves as a powerful catalyst for introspection and emotional turmoil. He advocates for books that provoke strong feelings and challenge our inner selves, comparing their effect to significant life events such as grief and isolation. The metaphor of a book being 'the axe for the frozen sea inside us' conveys the notion that literature has the potential to break through emotional barriers, facilitating a deeper understanding of our own existence and the human condition.
Themes
BooksEmotionsLiteratureImpactSelf-Discovery
In practice
Example use cases
In a book club discussion focusing on emotional resonance in literature.
More from Franz Kafka
All quotes βOne can disintegrate the world by means of very strong light. For weak eyes the world becomes solid, for still weaker eyes it seems to develop fists, for eyes weaker still it becomes shamefaced and smashes anyone who dares to gaze upon it.
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But Gregor understood easily that it was not only consideration for him which prevented their moving, for he could easily have been transported in a suitable crate with a few air holes; what mainly prevented the family from moving was their complete hopelessness and the thought that they had been struck by a misfortune as none of their relatives and acquaintances had ever been hit.
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Association with human beings lures one into self-observation.
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A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.
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The ulterior motives with which you absorb and assimilate Evil are not your own but those of Evil. _x000D_ The animal wrests the whip from its master and whips itself in order to become master, not knowing that this is only a fantasy produced by a new knot in the master's whiplash.
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