Georg Buchner (1813 – 1837)
German dramatist and writer of prose.
There are only Epicureans, either crude or refined; Christ was the most refined.
Revolution is like the daughters of Pelias: it cuts humanity to pieces in order to rejuvenate it.
Do you know, Valerio, that even the least among all humans is so great that life is far too short to love him?
Peace to the shacks! War on the palaces!
There is something beautiful about virtue, Captain. But I am just a poor guy.
The life of the wealthy is one long Sunday.
And for tired eyes every light is too bright, and for tired lips every breath too heavy, and for tired ears every word too much.
The revolution must end and the republic must begin. In our constitution, right must take the place of duty, welfare that of virtue, and self-defense that of punishment. Everyone must be able to prevail and to live according to one’s own nature.
You women could make someone fall in love even with a lie.
We are only puppets, our strings are being pulled by unknown forces.
We are always on stage, even when we are stabbed in earnest at the end.
A good man with a good conscience doesn’t walk so fast.
Germany is now a field of cadavers, soon she will be a paradise.
The world is chaos. Nothingness is the yet-to-be-born god of the world.
The state is therefore everyone; the rules within the state are laws which safeguard the welfare of all and which must originate from the welfare of all.
How many women does one need to sing the scale of love all the way up and down?
One must love humanity in order to reach out into the unique essence of each individual: no one can be too low or too ugly.
Death is the most blessed dream.
Love is a peculiar thing.
Revolution is like Saturn, it devours its own children.