19 Aphorisms From Karl Kraus

"It is either a half-truth or one-and-a-half truths"

Karl Kraus said:

An aphorism never coincides with the truth: it is either a half-truth or one-and-a-half truths.

Such sayings can illuminate and provoke thought – or obscure and end it. They are also so often simply clever and amusing. At their best they provide a new idea, effective way to remember old ideas, or are art in themselves. To that end, I hope to share more. A fine place to start is with more lines from the fiery Kraus.

Am I to blame if hallucinations and visions are alive and have names and permanent residences?

I don’t like to meddle in my private affairs.

A man gets so little recognition he could turn into a megalomaniac.

Once upon a time the actors were genuine and the decorations cardboard; nowadays the decorations do not give rise to doubt–and the actors are cardboard.

An artist should make concessions to the listener. That is why Bruckner dedicated one of his symphonies to the Good Lord.

Sound opinions are valueless. What matters is who holds them.

The real truths are those that can be invented.

The most incomprehensible talk comes from people who have no other use for language than to make themselves understood.

A historian is often only a journalist facing backwards.

Moral responsibility is what is lacking in a man when he demands it of a woman.

The superman is a premature ideal, one that presupposes man.

When there were no human rights, the exceptional individual had them. That was inhuman. Then equality was created by taking the human rights away from the exceptional individual.

When someone has behaved like an animal, he says: “I’m only human!” But when he is treated like an animal, he says: “I’m human, too!”

There is no doubt that a dog is loyal. But does that mean we should emulate him? After all, he is loyal to people, not to other dogs.

Democracy means the permission to be everyone else’s slave.

The ugliness of our time has retroactive force.

Progress celebrates pyrrhic victories over nature.

You don’t even live once.

Each of these are taken from Harry Zohn’s translation and selection Half-Truths and One-and-a-Half Truths: Selected Aphorisms.