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

Jealousy is a dog's bark which attracts thieves

Jealousy is a dog's bark which attracts thieves

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...

Psychoanalysis is that mental illness for which it regards itself as therapy.

Psychoanalysis is that mental illness for which it regards itself as therapy.

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.

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

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

Progress celebrates victories over nature. Progress makes purses out of human skin. When people were...

Progress celebrates victories over nature. Progress makes purses out of human skin. When people were...

A child learns to discard his ideals, whereas a grown-up never wears out his short...

A child learns to discard his ideals, whereas a grown-up never wears out his short...

War is, at first, the hope that one will be better off; next, the expectation...

War is, at first, the hope that one will be better off; next, the expectation...

Language is the mother of thought, not its handmaiden

Language is the mother of thought, not its handmaiden

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave

The trouble with Germans is not that they fire shells, but that they engrave them...

The trouble with Germans is not that they fire shells, but that they engrave them...

Feminine passion is to masculine as an epic is to an epigram

Feminine passion is to masculine as an epic is to an epigram

Science is spectral analysis. Art is light synthesis.

Science is spectral analysis. Art is light synthesis.

Do not learn more than you absolutely need to get through life.

Do not learn more than you absolutely need to get through life.

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave.

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave.

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...

Stupidity gets up early; that is why events are accustomed to happening in the morning.

Stupidity gets up early; that is why events are accustomed to happening in the morning.

There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity.

There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity.

I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it.

I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it.