Quotes by Karl Kraus

“Sexuality poorly repressed unsettles some families; well repressed, it unsettles the whole world.”

“My sexuality has never been a problem to me but I think it has been for other people.”

“Solitude would be ideal if you could pick the people to avoid”

“Jealousy is a dogs bark which attracts thieves”

“Journalist: a person without any ideas but with an ability to express them; a writer whose skill is improved by a deadline: the more time he has, the worse he writes.”

“A writer is someone who can make a riddle out of an answer.”

“Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match”

“A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.”

“To me all men are equal: there are jackasses everywhere, and I have the same contempt for them all”

“The mission of the press is to spread culture while destroying the attention span”

The devil is an optimist if he thinks he can make people worse than they are.

How is the world ruled and led to war? Diplomats lie to journalists and believe these lies when they see them in print.

War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost.

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyones slave.

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful.

Chastity always takes its toll. In some it produces pimples; in others, sex laws.

A writer is someone who can make a riddle out of an answer.

The world is a prison in which solitary confinement is preferable.

My language is the common prostitute that I turn into a virgin.

In case of doubt decide in favor of what is correct.