Quote

There is nothing that man fears more than the touch of the unknown. He wants to see what is reaching towards him, and to be able to recognize or at least classify it. Man always tends to avoid physical contact with anything strange.

Elias Canetti

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Elias Canetti
Age: 89 †
Born: 1905
Born: July 25
Died: 1994
Died: August 14
Aphorist
Author
Chemist
Essayist
Novelist
Playwright
Writer
Rousse
Elías Canetti
Nothing
Towards
Classify
Always
Touch
Tends
Men
Physical
Fears
Strange
Unknown
Wants
Reaching
Least
Contact
Anything
Avoid
Able
Recognize

More quotes by Elias Canetti

Image
It is only in a crowd that man can become free of this fear of being touched. That is the only situation in which the fear changes into its opposite… The reversal of fear of being touched belongs to the nature of crowds. The feeling of relief is most striking where the density of the crowd is greatest
Elias Canetti
Image
Adults find pleasure in deceiving a child. They consider it necessary, but they also enjoy it. The children very quickly figure it out and then practice deception themselves.
Elias Canetti
Image
I would like to become tolerant without overlooking anything, persecute no one even when all people persecute me become better without noticing it become sadder, but enjoy living become more serene, be happy in others belong to no one, grow in everyone love the best, comfort the worst not even hate myself anymore.
Elias Canetti
Image
Every decision is liberating, even if it leads to disaster.
Elias Canetti
Image
His head is made of stars, but not yet arranged into constellations.
Elias Canetti
Image
There can be no Creator, simply because his grief at the fate of his creation would be inconceivable and unendurable.
Elias Canetti
Image
The profoundest thoughts of the philosophers have something trickle about them. A lot disappears in order for something to suddenly appear in the palm of the hand.
Elias Canetti
Image
Pessimists are not boring. Pessimists are right. Pessimists are superfluous.
Elias Canetti
Image
Words are not too old, only people are too old if they use the same words too frequently.
Elias Canetti
Image
One has a prejudice wherever one fears a transformation.
Elias Canetti
Image
Travelling, one accepts everything indignation stays at home. One looks, one listens, one is roused to enthusiasm by the most dreadful things because they are new. Good travellers are heartless.
Elias Canetti
Image
The self- explorer, whether he wants to or not, becomes the explorer of everything else. He learns to see himself, but suddenly, provided he was honest, all the rest appears, and it is as rich as he was, and, as a final crowning, richer.
Elias Canetti
Image
Success listens only to applause. To all else it is deaf
Elias Canetti
Image
...how could I, fool that I am, go on sitting in my office, or here at home, instead of leaping onto a train with my eyes shut and opening them only when I am with you?
Elias Canetti
Image
I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole.
Elias Canetti
Image
Learning is the art of ignoring.
Elias Canetti
Image
Someone who always has to lie discovers that every one of his lies is true
Elias Canetti
Image
There emanates from superlatives a destructive force.
Elias Canetti
Image
He would like to start from scratch. Where is scratch?
Elias Canetti
Image
Explain nothing. Put it there. Say it. Leave.
Elias Canetti