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Franz Grillparzer Quotes

Powerful Franz Grillparzer for Daily Growth

About Franz Grillparzer

Franz Grillparzer (April 13, 1791 – December 21, 1872) was an Austrian dramatist and poet who played a pivotal role in the development of German-language literature. Born in Vienna to a family of modest means, Grillparzer lost his father at the age of three and was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents. His early education took place at the Benedictine abbey of St. Blasien in the Black Forest, where he displayed an aptitude for music and writing. In 1805, Grillparzer returned to Vienna and enrolled at the Theresianum, a renowned school for future civil servants. During his time there, he began to write poetry and drama. After completing his education in 1812, Grillparzer held various positions within the Imperial Austrian administration before resigning from public service in 1830 to focus on his literary career. Grillparzer's major works span multiple genres and reflect his deep understanding of human nature and societal complexities. His most famous play, "König Ottokars Glück und Ende" (King Ottokar's Luck and End), was written in 1823 and is considered one of the greatest historical dramas in German literature. Other significant works include the poem "Das Buch der allmächtigen Prüfungen" (The Book of Trials of Might) and the drama trilogy "Die Ahnfrau" (The Ancestress). Grillparzer's writings, influenced by German Romanticism and Classical Greek drama, explore themes of destiny, free will, and moral ambiguity. His works were highly influential in shaping the literary landscape of 19th-century Europe. Grillparzer remained unmarried and childless throughout his life, dedicating himself fully to his art. Despite facing criticism from some quarters for his depiction of human frailty, he is now widely recognized as a master of German literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In der Nacht des Lebens sind die Wächter alle gleich." (All sentinels are equal in the night of life.)

In the "night of life," as represented by challenging or difficult times, all individuals become equally vigilant, resilient, and determined in their pursuit to navigate through these trials. This quote highlights the universal human experience where societal hierarchies and distinctions are temporarily set aside, and everyone faces the same struggles and uncertainties.

"Wer sich der Welt annimmt, sollte sie erhalten." (He who accepts the world should preserve it.)

The quote emphasizes that those who choose to engage with the world are responsible for preserving its integrity. It suggests a sense of duty and respect towards the world and its inhabitants, urging individuals to act responsibly and sustainably in their interactions with the environment and society. In essence, it calls for conscious participation and care in maintaining the balance and harmony of our world.

"Der Mensch ist nur der Ort, an dem Gott wohnt." (Man is merely the place where God dwells.)

This quote suggests that humans are vessels or locations where the divine presence resides. It implies a spiritual perspective in which the essence of humanity serves as a container for the divinity within each individual, emphasizing the idea that people are not inherently godly themselves but rather channels through which the divine can manifest. In simpler terms, it proposes that humans are not self-contained beings but rather vehicles for the divine to express itself in the world.

"Die Zeit schreitet mit gewaltigem Schritt und hat keinen Rückblick." (Time marches with mighty strides and has no backward glance.)

This quote emphasizes the unstoppable, relentless nature of time, which moves forward swiftly without pause or remorse. It suggests that we should seize opportunities when they present themselves, as they are fleeting, and we cannot reclaim lost moments. Time does not wait for us; we must act accordingly.

"Ein Mensch ist kein Stück Eisen, er muss nicht auf die gleiche Art behandelt werden wie ein Eisenbahnbetriebswagen." (A person is not a piece of iron; they should not be treated in the same way as a railway rolling stock.)

This quote emphasizes that people are not mere objects or machinery, but complex beings with unique emotions, thoughts, and needs. Therefore, it suggests that treating individuals with dignity, understanding, and empathy is essential, rather than applying rigid, uniform rules or methods that might be suitable for inanimate objects like railway rolling stock. It underscores the importance of humanizing our interactions with others to foster a more compassionate and equitable society.

Mankind is getting smarter every day. Actually, it only seems so. At least we are making progress. We're progressing, to be sure, ever more deeply into the forest.

- Franz Grillparzer

Forest, Mankind, Making, Progressing

I look around me and nowhere do I see a stamp of disapproval with which nature marked a woman's candid brow.

- Franz Grillparzer

Woman, Which, Marked, Disapproval

This searching and doubting and vacillating where nothing is clear but the arrogance of quest. I, too, had such noble ideas when I was still a boy.

- Franz Grillparzer

Nothing, Searching, Still, Doubting

To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism.

- Franz Grillparzer

Test, Modest, Investigate, Abide

The main reason why men and women make different aesthetic judgments is the fact that the latter, generally incapable of abstraction, only admire what meets their complete approval.

- Franz Grillparzer

Reason, Fact, Aesthetic, Incapable

Genius unrefined resembles a flash of lightning, but wisdom is like the sun.

- Franz Grillparzer

Genius, Lightning, Resembles, Flash

Those who want to row on the ocean of human knowledge do not get far, and the storm drives those out of their course who set sail.

- Franz Grillparzer

Storm, Sail, Set, Human Knowledge

You even called me stupid in your verse, and I'm almost agreeing, for where stupidity is involved, you are quite an expert, friend.

- Franz Grillparzer

Stupid, Stupidity, Expert, Verse

Before passing different laws for different people, I'd relinquish myself unto you as your slave.

- Franz Grillparzer

Different People, Laws, Unto, Passing

To declaim freedom verses seems like a poem within a poem; freedom requires guns, it requires arms, but no feet.

- Franz Grillparzer

Feet, Poem, Guns, Verses

Poetry, it is often said and loudly so, is life's true mirror. But a monkey looking into a work of literature looks in vain for Socrates.

- Franz Grillparzer

Mirror, Monkey, Loudly, Socrates

Progress will always have as its recourse to exaggerate what it cannot surpass.

- Franz Grillparzer

Will, Always, Recourse, Surpass

Although your knowledge is weak and small, you need not be silent: since you cannot be judges be at least witnesses.

- Franz Grillparzer

Small, Silent, Need, Judges

Ideas are not thoughts; the thought respects the boundaries that the idea ignores thereby failing to realize itself.

- Franz Grillparzer

Thoughts, Ignores, Itself, Respects

Without a notion of the transcendental, human beings would, indeed, be animals; however, only fools can be convinced of it, and only degenerates need such a conviction.

- Franz Grillparzer

Need, Conviction, However, Fools

It's the misfortune of German authors that not a single one of them dares to expose his true character. Everyone thinks that he has to be better than he is.

- Franz Grillparzer

Misfortune, Everyone, German, Authors

Science and art, or by the same token, poetry and prose differ from one another like a journey and an excursion. The purpose of the journey is its goal, the purpose of an excursion is the process.

- Franz Grillparzer

Art, Process, Prose, Token

If we notice a few errors in the work of a proven master, we may and even will often be correct; if we believe, however, that he is completely and utterly mistaken, we are in danger of missing his entire concept.

- Franz Grillparzer

May, However, Correct, Notice

No one will stop to help you when you are in need, but everyone forces opinions upon you that you do not require.

- Franz Grillparzer

Will, Need, Everyone, Forces

When the theater gates open, a mob pours inside, and it is the poet's task to turn it into an audience.

- Franz Grillparzer

Audience, Mob, Task, Gates

Drink and be thankful to the host! What seems insignificant when you have it, is important when you need it.

- Franz Grillparzer

Important, Thanksgiving, Insignificant

The uneducated person perceives only the individual phenomenon, the partly educated person the rule, and the educated person the exception.

- Franz Grillparzer

Educated, Exception, Person, Partly

No shortcomings of other people cause us to be more intolerant than those which are caricatures of our own.

- Franz Grillparzer

Shortcomings, Other, Which, Intolerant

The ideas of an age are most abundant where they are not crowded by original ideas.

- Franz Grillparzer

Original, Most, Abundant, Crowded

Prose talks and poetry sings.

- Franz Grillparzer

Poetry, Prose, Sings, Talks

There shall be no slave in your home, male or female: Least of all the mother of your son.

- Franz Grillparzer

Mother, Son, Least, Slave

Whoever places his trust into a system will soon be without a home. While you are building your third story, the two lower ones have already been dismantled.

- Franz Grillparzer

Trust, Will, Been, Third

If someone were to think that trees are made to support the sky, they would all seem too short.

- Franz Grillparzer

Sky, Think, Made, Trees

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