Some deny the existence of misery by pointing to the sun; he denies the existence of the sun by pointing to misery.
Franz KafkaRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the dangers of adopting harmful motivations that are not inherently yours, suggesting a struggle for power that leads to self-destruction.
Franz Kafka's quote reflects on the complexities of power dynamics and the influence of evil on individuals. It suggests that when one adopts the motivations of evil, they may unwittingly become enslaved to those very corrupting influences, mistaking a false sense of control for freedom. The imagery of the animal that wrests the whip from its master only to inflict harm upon itself illustrates the tragic irony that one can become a victim of their own misguided aspirations when they seek power through negative means.
Themes
EvilMotivesPowerControlSelf-Destruction
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal responsibility and ethical leadership.
More from Franz Kafka
All quotes →One 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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Just think how many thoughts a blanket smothers while one lies alone in bed, and how many unhappy dreams it keeps warm.
Franz KafkaRead
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