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I was heading for the city in the south, of which they…

“I was heading for the city in the south, of which they used to say in our village: ‘There are people for you! Just think—they never go to sleep!’ ‘And why don’t they?’ ‘Because they’re fools.’ ‘Don’t fools get tired, then?’ ‘How could fools get tired?” quote by Franz Kafka
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““I was heading for the city in the south, of which they used to say in our village: ‘There are people for you! Just think—they never go to sleep!’ ‘And why don’t they?’ ‘Because they’re fools.’ ‘Don’t fools get tired, then?’ ‘How could fools get tired?””

Franz Kafka

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People are described as endlessly active yet never resting, suggesting a paradox of perpetual labor without fatigue.

In simple terms: Fools work nonstop, never tired.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the futility of endless toil.

Themes

work ethic paradox human nature

Mood

analytical skeptical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • office culture
  • creative pursuits
  • daily routines

Key Concepts

existentialism societal critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we glorify relentless work?
  • What balance can we find between effort and rest?
A Different Perspective

The notion of never tiring may ignore natural limits.

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