Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work.
Karl KrausRead
Moral responsibility is what is lacking in a man when he demands it of a woman.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the hypocrisy in demanding moral responsibility from others while failing to uphold it oneself, particularly in gender dynamics.
Karl Kraus emphasizes the moral hypocrisy that often exists in societal expectations around gender roles. In this quote, he suggests that when a man expects a woman to bear the burden of moral responsibility, it often reflects his own inadequacies and lack of accountability. This statement critiques the unequal standards that society places on men and women, urging for a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and equality.
Themes
MoralResponsibilityGenderHypocrisyEquality
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about gender roles, to highlight the need for shared responsibility.
More from Karl Kraus
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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.
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Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match.
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Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust.
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Sexuality poorly repressed unsettles some families; well repressed, it unsettles the whole world.
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