Children Quote by Franz Kafka
““We are as forlorn as children lost in the woods. When you stand in front of me and look at me, what do you know of the griefs that are in me and what do I know of yours. And if I were to cast myself down before you and weep and tell you, what more would you know about me than you know about Hell when someone tells you it is hot and dreadful? For that reason alone we human beings ought to stand before one another as reverently, as reflectively, as lovingly, as we would before the entrance to Hell.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Trial, 1925
We must treat each other's hidden suffering with deep respect, as if confronting something as terrifying as Hell.
In simple terms: Respect others' hidden pain.
Key Takeaway
Approach others with reverence.
Themes
empathy
respect
humanity
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- counseling
- conflict resolution
- friendship
- family gatherings
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
ethical conduct
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you show reverence for someone's unseen grief?
- What does treating others like the entrance to Hell imply about our responsibilities?
A Different Perspective
People may not fully understand another's inner turmoil.
![“The tremendous world I have inside my head. But how [to] free myself and free it without being torn to pieces. And a thousand times [I'd] rather be torn to pieces than rather it in me or bury it. That, indeed, is why I am here, that is quite clear to me.” quote by Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f19/franz-kafka-214_freedom_the-tremendous-world-i-have-inside-my-he_5848.jpg)
