Culture is the tacit agreement to let the means of subsistence disappear behind the purpose of existence. Civilization is the subordination of the latter to the former.

Quote by Karl Kraus

Topics: Karl Kraus Quotes

Someone who can write aphorisms should not fritter away his time in essays.

Someone who can write aphorisms should not fritter away his time in essays.

An idea's birth is legitimate if one has the feeling that one is catching oneself...

An idea's birth is legitimate if one has the feeling that one is catching oneself...

No ideas and the ability to express them - that's a journalist

No ideas and the ability to express them - that's a journalist

Intercourse with a woman is sometimes a satisfactory substitute for masturbation. But it takes a...

Intercourse with a woman is sometimes a satisfactory substitute for masturbation. But it takes a...

There is no more unfortunate creature under the sun than a fetishist who yearns for...

There is no more unfortunate creature under the sun than a fetishist who yearns for...

No ideas and the ability to express them - that's a journalist.

No ideas and the ability to express them - that's a journalist.

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.

Squeeze human nature into the straitjacket of criminal justice and crime will appear.

Squeeze human nature into the straitjacket of criminal justice and crime will appear.

My unconscious knows more about the consciousness of the psychologist than his consciousness knows about...

My unconscious knows more about the consciousness of the psychologist than his consciousness knows about...

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave.

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave.

Justice is a whore that won't let herself be stiffed, and collects the wages of...

Justice is a whore that won't let herself be stiffed, and collects the wages of...

Matrimony is the union of meanness and martyrdom.

Matrimony is the union of meanness and martyrdom.

Jealousy is a dog's bark which attracts thieves

Jealousy is a dog's bark which attracts thieves

Sentimental irony is a dog that bays at the moon while pissing on graves.

Sentimental irony is a dog that bays at the moon while pissing on graves.

I had a terrible vision: I saw an encyclopedia walk up to a polymath and...

I had a terrible vision: I saw an encyclopedia walk up to a polymath and...

You would be surprised how hard it often is to translate an action into thought.

You would be surprised how hard it often is to translate an action into thought.

I am already so popular that anyone who vilifies me becomes more popular than I...

I am already so popular that anyone who vilifies me becomes more popular than I...

Science is spectral analysis. Art is light synthesis.

Science is spectral analysis. Art is light synthesis.

Journalists write because they have nothing to say, and have something to say because they...

Journalists write because they have nothing to say, and have something to say because they...

Journalist: a person without any ideas but with an ability to express them; a writer...

Journalist: a person without any ideas but with an ability to express them; a writer...