Causes Quote by Franz Kafka
“In Paradise, as always: that which causes the sin and that which recognizes it for what it is are one. The clear conscience is Evil, which is so entirely victorious that it does not any longer consider the leap from left to right necessary.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Trial, Franz Kafka, 1925
Sin and its recognition are inseparable; a clear conscience is itself a form of evil that justifies its own existence.
In simple terms: Awareness of wrongdoing can become a self‑justifying evil.
Key Takeaway
Question your moral certainty.
Themes
morality
self‑deception
guilt
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- legal judgments
- personal ethics
- inner conflict
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When does conscience become a rationalization?
- Can awareness of sin ever be purely good?
A Different Perspective
Self‑justification can blind one to true accountability.
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