Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work.
Karl KrausRead
To me all men are equal: there are jackasses everywhere, and I have the same contempt for them all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the idea that people are judged equally, regardless of their status, revealing a universal disdain for mediocrity.
Karl Kraus's statement emphasizes that he sees all individuals as equal, highlighting his disdain for foolishness found in all walks of life. The quote suggests that intelligence, integrity, or lack thereof are not confined to social classes, portraying a strong contempt for ignorance regardless of its source. It reflects the idea that human flaws are universally present, and Kraus applies the same standard of judgment to everyone.
Themes
EqualityContemptIgnoranceJudgmentHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on equality in society, this quote can be used to emphasize the universal flaws in human character.
More from Karl Kraus
All quotes βThe mission of the press is to spread culture while destroying the attention span.
Karl KrausRead
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 KrausRead
Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match.
Karl KrausRead
Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust.
Karl KrausRead
Sexuality poorly repressed unsettles some families; well repressed, it unsettles the whole world.
Karl KrausRead
Similar quotes
Every individual matters and has a role to play in this life on Earth.
Jane GoodallRead
Species do not grow more perfect: the weaker dominate the strong, again and again- the reason being that they are the great majority, and they are also cleverer. Darwin forgot the mind (-that is English!): the weak possess more mind. ... To acquire mind, one must need mind-one loses it when one no longer needs it.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Lord free me of myself, so I can please you!
MichelangeloRead
Between ourselves and our real natures we interpose that wax figure of idealizations and selections which we call our character.
Walter LippmannRead
What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Peter ThielRead
I suppose that every one of us hopes secretly for immortality; to leave, I mean, a name behind him which will live forever in this world, whatever he may be doing, himself, in the next.
A. A. MilneRead