--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know that a man can read Goethe or…" description: "\"We know that a man can read Goethe or Rilke in the evening, that he can play Bach and Schubert, and go to his day's work at Auschwitz in the morning.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/george-steiner-4683_auschwitz_we-know-that-a-man-can-read-goethe-or-ri_1528994.png" --- # We know that a man can read Goethe or Rilke in the… ![“We know that a man can read Goethe or Rilke in the evening, that he can play Bach and Schubert, and go to his day's work at Auschwitz in the morning.” quote by George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/george-steiner-4683_auschwitz_we-know-that-a-man-can-read-goethe-or-ri_1528994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/george-steiner-4683_auschwitz_we-know-that-a-man-can-read-goethe-or-ri_1528994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/george-steiner-4683_auschwitz_we-know-that-a-man-can-read-goethe-or-ri_1528994.png) > “We know that a man can read Goethe or Rilke in the evening, that he can play Bach and Schubert, and go to his day's work at Auschwitz in the morning.” [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person can appreciate high art yet commit horrific acts, exposing moral dissonance. **In simple terms:** Art and atrocity can coexist. Key Takeaway Recognize the gap between culture and actions. Themes morality art cognitive dissonance Mood somber reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - war crimes - cultural consumption - personal reflection Key Concepts human nature ethical paradox Questions to Reflect On - Can cultural appreciation justify immoral behavior? - How do we reconcile beauty with brutality? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize individual capacity for evil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auschwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auschwitz/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' 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Without translation, we would inhabit parishes bordering on silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/every-language-is-a-world-without-translation-we-would-inhabit/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) [Explore all 104 George Steiner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) ## More Auschwitz quotes > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We need creativity. 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