In its words

In the Penal Colony quotes

10 quotes from In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka, each verified verbatim against the text and located in the book.

In the Penal Colony

Franz Kafka

5 books shelved

Guilt is always beyond doubt.
Die Schuld ist immer zweifellos.

— The Officer (dialogue) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

There would be no point in announcing it to him. He learns it on his body.
Es wäre nutzlos, es ihm zu verkünden. Er erfährt es ja auf seinem Leib.

— The Officer (dialogue) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

Honor your superior!
Ehre deinen Vorgesetzten!

— The Officer (dialogue) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

Understanding dawns on even the dullest. It begins around the eyes.
Verstand geht dem Blödesten auf. Um die Augen beginnt es.

— The Officer (dialogue) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

They stand for home. We don't want to lose home.
sie bedeuten die Heimat; wir wollen nicht die Heimat verlieren.

— The Officer (dialogue) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

Everyone knew: now justice is being done.
alle wussten: Jetzt geschieht Gerechtigkeit.

— The Officer (dialogue) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

You are a foreigner, keep quiet.
Du bist ein Fremder, sei still.

— The Traveler (narration of his thoughts) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

Be just!
Sei gerecht!

— The Officer (dialogue) · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

This was not torture of the kind the officer had wanted. This was plain murder.
das war ja keine Folter, wie sie der Offizier erreichen wollte, das war unmittelbarer Mord.

— Narration, from the traveler's point of view · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

Believe and wait!
Glaubet und wartet!

— The inscription on the old commandant's gravestone · Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony (1919); English translation by The Paris Atlas

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In the Penal Colony

Franz Kafka

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