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In its words

The Officer quotes

A character in In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka

8 quotes spoken by or about The Officer, each verified verbatim against the text and located in the book.

About Franz Kafka

Illustrated portrait of Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka

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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
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

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