Test yourself on mankind. It is something that makes the doubter doubt, the believer believe.
Franz Kafka

The Bible is a sanctum; the world, sputum.
Franz Kafka

The decisive moment in human evolution is perpetual. That is why the revolutionary spiritual movements that declare all former things worthless are in the right, for nothing has yet happened.
Franz Kafka

The experience of life consists of the experience which the spirit has of itself in matter and as matter, in mind and as mind, in emotion, as emotion, etc.
Franz Kafka

The fact that our task is exactly commensurate with our life gives it the appearance of being infinite.
Franz Kafka

The history of mankind is the instant between two strides taken by a traveler.
Franz Kafka

The indestructible is one: it is each individual human being and, at the same time, it is common to all, hence the incomparably indivisible union that exists between human beings.
Franz Kafka

The mediation by the serpent was necessary. Evil can seduce man, but cannot become man.
Franz Kafka

The relationship to one's fellow man is the relationship of prayer, the relationship to oneself is the relationship of striving; it is from prayer that one draws the strength for one's striving.
Franz Kafka

The spirit becomes free only when it ceases to be a support.
Franz Kafka

The thornbush is the old obstacle in the road. It must catch fire if you want to go further.
Franz Kafka

There are only two things. Truth and lies. Truth is indivisible, hence it cannot recognize itself; anyone who wants to recognize it has to be a lie.
Franz Kafka

There is nothing besides a spiritual world; what we call the world of the senses is the Evil in the spiritual world, and what we call Evil is only the necessity of a moment in our eternal evolution.
Franz Kafka

Tyranny or slavery, born of selfishness, are the two educational methods of parents; all gradations of tyranny or slavery.
Franz Kafka

We all have wings, but they have not been of any avail to us and if we could tear them off, we would do so.
Franz Kafka

We are separated from God on two sides; the Fall separates us from Him, the Tree of Life separates Him from us.
Franz Kafka

We are sinful not only because we have eaten of the Tree of Knowledge, but also because we have not yet eaten of the Tree of Life. The state in which we are is sinful, irrespective of guilt.
Franz Kafka

Woman, or more precisely put, perhaps, marriage, is the representative of life with which you are meant to come to terms.
Franz Kafka

Writers speak stench.
Franz Kafka

You can hold yourself back from the sufferings of the world, that is something you are free to do and it accords with your nature, but perhaps this very holding back is the one suffering you could avoid.
Franz Kafka