Death is the sanction of everything the story-teller can tell. He has borrowed his authority from death.

He who observes etiquette but objects to lying is like someone who dresses fashionably but wears no vest... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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Every passion borders on the chaotic, but the collector's passion borders on the chaos of memories... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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The art of the critic in a nutshell: to coin slogans without betraying ideas. The slogans of an inadequate criticism peddle ideas to fashion... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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Books and harlots have their quarrels in public... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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Boredom is the dream bird that hatches the egg of experience. A rustling in the leaves drives him away... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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The art of storytelling is reaching its end because the epic side of truth, wisdom, is dying out... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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Opinions are a private matter. The public has an interest only in judgments... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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Of all the ways of acquiring books, writing them oneself is regarded as the most praiseworthy method. Writers are really people who write books not because they are poor, but because they are dissatisfied with the books which they could buy but do not like... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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The only way of knowing a person is to love them without hope... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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It is only for the sake of those without hope that hope is given to us... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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Genuine polemics approach a book as lovingly as a cannibal spices a baby... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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The adjustment of reality to the masses and of the masses to reality is a process of unlimited scope, as much for thinking as for perception... view

By: Walter Benjamin

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