--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Kitsch\" is a German word born in the…" description: "\"“Kitsch\" is a German word born in the middle of the sentimental nineteenth century, and from German is entered all Western languages. Repeated use, how..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/milan-kundera-120_human-existence_kitsch-is-a-german-word-born-in-the-midd_668871.jpg" --- # Kitsch" is a German word born in the middle of the… ![“Kitsch" is a German word born in the middle of the sentimental nineteenth century, and from German is entered all Western languages. Repeated use, however, has obliterated its original metaphysical meaning: kitsch is the absolute denial of shit, in both the literal and figurative sense of the…” quote by Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/milan-kundera-120_human-existence_kitsch-is-a-german-word-born-in-the-midd_668871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/milan-kundera-120_human-existence_kitsch-is-a-german-word-born-in-the-midd_668871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/milan-kundera-120_human-existence_kitsch-is-a-german-word-born-in-the-midd_668871.jpg) > ““Kitsch" is a German word born in the middle of the sentimental nineteenth century, and from German is entered all Western languages. Repeated use, however, has obliterated its original metaphysical meaning: kitsch is the absolute denial of shit, in both the literal and figurative sense of the word; kitsch excludes everything from its purview which is essentially unacceptable in human existence.”” [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kitsch represents a denial of the harsh realities of life, replacing them with superficial, comforting falsehoods. **In simple terms:** Kitsch hides truth with easy comforts. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront uncomfortable truths. Themes art culture authenticity denial reality Mood critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - museum curation - advertising - personal relationships - media consumption Key Concepts aesthetic theory philosophy of art social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does kitsch affect personal growth? - When is it acceptable to use kitsch for comfort? A Different Perspective Kitsch can also serve as a coping mechanism in trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitsch/) ## Related quotes > [Kitsch excludes everything from its purview which is essentially unacceptable in human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-excludes-everything-from-its-purview-which-is-essentially/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [In the attacks on the old ways of doing things on word in particular came into currency. That word was "kitsch." Once introduced, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/in-the-attacks-on-the-old-ways-of-doing-things-on-word-in-particular/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“What remains of Beethoven? A frown, an improbable mane, and a somber voice intoning "Es muss seine!" ….And so n and so forth. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/what-remains-of-beethoven-a-frown-an-improbable-mane-and-a-somber/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [In the realm of totalitarian kitsch, all answers are given in advance and preclude any questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/in-the-realm-of-totalitarian-kitsch-all-answers-are-given-in-advance/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Kitsch is the inability to admit that shit exists”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-is-the-inability-to-admit-that-shit-exists/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The senator had only one argument in his favour: his feeling. When the heart speaks, the mind finds it indecent to object. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-senator-had-only-one-argument-in-his-favour-his-feeling-when-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [No matter how much we scorn it, kitsch is an integral part of the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/no-matter-how-much-we-scorn-it-kitsch-is-an-integral-part-of-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“In the kingdom of kitsch you would be a monster”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/in-the-kingdom-of-kitsch-you-would-be-a-monster/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Before we are forgotten, we will be turned into kitsch. Kitsch is the stopover between being and oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/before-we-are-forgotten-we-will-be-turned-into-kitsch-kitsch-is-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“It follows, then, that the aesthetic ideal of the categorical agreement with being is a world in which shit is denied and everyone acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/it-follows-then-that-the-aesthetic-ideal-of-the-categorical-agreement/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Kitsch causes two tears to flow in quick succession. The first tear says: How nice to see children running on the grass! The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-causes-two-tears-to-flow-in-quick-succession-the-first-tear-2/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Kitsch causes two tears to flow in quick succession. The first tear says: How nice to see children running on the grass! The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-causes-two-tears-to-flow-in-quick-succession-the-first-tear/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Kitsch is the stopover between being and oblivion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-is-the-stopover-between-being-and-oblivion/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Her kitsch was the image of home, all peace, quiet, and harmony, and ruled by a loving mother and a wise father. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/her-kitsch-was-the-image-of-home-all-peace-quiet-and-harmony-and/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Kitsch of course only comes into existence when we recognize how and why it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bayley/kitsch-of-course-only-comes-into-existence-when-we-recognize-how-and/) John Bayley ## More by Milan Kundera > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“From that time on they both looked forward to sleeping together. I might even say that the goal of their lovemaking was not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/from-that-time-on-they-both-looked-forward-to-sleeping-together-i/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Beauty in the European sense has always had a premeditated quality to it. We've always had an aesthetic intention and a long-range plan. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/beauty-in-the-european-sense-has-always-had-a-premeditated-quality-to/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The beauty of New York is unintentional; it arose independent of human design, like a stalagmite cavern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-beauty-of-new-york-is-unintentional-it-arose-independent-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Children, Never look Back!" and this meant that we must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory . for children have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/children-never-look-back-and-this-meant-that-we-must-never-allow-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Our lives may be separate, but they run in the same direction, like parallel lines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/our-lives-may-be-separate-but-they-run-in-the-same-direction-like/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Having a child is to show an absolute accord with mankind. If I have a child, it's as though I'm saying: I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/having-a-child-is-to-show-an-absolute-accord-with-mankind-if-i-have-a/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“He remained annoyed with himself until he realized that not knowing what he wanted was actually quite natural. We can never know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/he-remained-annoyed-with-himself-until-he-realized-that-not-knowing/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [When we ignore the body, we are more easily victimized by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/when-we-ignore-the-body-we-are-more-easily-victimized-by-it/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Do stories, apart from happening, being, have something to say? For all my skepticism, some trace of irrational superstition did survive in me, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/do-stories-apart-from-happening-being-have-something-to-say-for-all/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Os extremos delimitam a fronteira para além da qual a vida termina, e a paixão pelo extremismo, tanto em arte como em política, é…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/os-extremos-delimitam-a-fronteira-para-al-m-da-qual-a-vida-termina-e/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Anyone whose goal is 'something higher' must expect someday to suffer vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/anyone-whose-goal-is-something-higher-must-expect-someday-to-suffer/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) [Explore all 952 Milan Kundera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## More Human existence quotes > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is merely the egoism of the man, who wants to bury a woman like a treasure. All attempts at using vows, contracts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/it-is-merely-the-egoism-of-the-man-who-wants-to-bury-a-woman-like-a/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [The one function that most gods seem to have in common is to give human existence some ultimate purpose - and, while it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/the-one-function-that-most-gods-seem-to-have-in-common-is-to-give/) [Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/) > [“The representation of women in the society, especially through mass media has been the most delusional act ever done on the grounds of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-representation-of-women-in-the-society-especially-through-mass/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“It is those who have compassion for all life who will best safeguard the life of man. 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