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Great saying by great authors Quote by Karl Kraus

“In these great times which I knew when they were this small; which will become small again, provided they have time left for it ... in thesetimes in which things are happening that could not be imagined and in which what can no longer be imagined must happen, for if one couldimagine it, it would…” quote by Karl Kraus
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“In these great times which I knew when they were this small; which will become small again, provided they have time left for it ... in thesetimes in which things are happening that could not be imagined and in which what can no longer be imagined must happen, for if one couldimagine it, it would not happen; in these serious timeswhich have died laughing at the thought that they might become serious; which, surprised by their own tragedy, are reaching for diversion and, catching themselves redhanded, are groping for words ... in these times you should not expect any words of my own from menone but these words which barely manage to prevent silence from being misinterpreted.”

Karl Kraus

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Last Days of Mankind, 1932

The passage reflects on paradoxical modernity, where profound events become trivialized and imagination limits reality, urging awareness of silence and meaning.

In simple terms: Modern life can make big events seem small and silence misunderstood.

Key Takeaway

Stay mindful of depth amid distraction.

Themes

modernity paradox silence meaning

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • political discourse
  • media consumption
  • personal reflection
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

existentialism cultural critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does silence shape our understanding of truth?
  • What role does imagination play in limiting change?
A Different Perspective

The text assumes all readers share its cultural context, which may not hold universally.

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