Democracy divides people into workers and loafers. It makes no provision for those who have no time to work.
Karl KrausRead
If the reporter has killed our imagination with his truth, he threatens our life with his lies.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that the press can hinder creativity by only presenting harsh realities, and this disillusionment can be detrimental to life.
Karl Kraus's quote highlights the powerful role of media in shaping our perceptions of reality. When journalists present only stark truths, they can stifle our imagination and creativity, leading to a bleak outlook on life. Conversely, if they distort or fabricate reality, they further threaten our existence by leading us away from the truth. Thus, the quote cautions against the influence of media on our lives and stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between truth and imagination.
Themes
TruthImaginationMediaLifeLies
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a discussion on the impact of media on society.
More from Karl Kraus
All quotes βThe mission of the press is to spread culture while destroying the attention span.
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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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