“Many complain that the words of the
wise are always merely parables and of no use in daily life, which is the only
life we have. When the sage says: "Go over," he does not mean that we
should cross over to some actual place, which we could do anyhow if the labor
were worth it; he means some fabulous yonder, something unknown to us,
something too that he cannot designate more precisely, and therefore cannot
help us here in the very least. All these parables really set out to say merely
that the incomprehensible is incomprehensible, and we know that already. But
the cares we have to struggle with every day: that is a different matter.
Concerning this a man once said: Why such reluctance? If you only followed the parables you yourselves would become parables and with that rid yourself of all your daily cares.
Another said: I bet that is also a parable.
The first said: You have won.
The second said: But unfortunately only in parable.
The first said: No, in reality: in parable you have lost.”
― Franz Kafka On Parables
Though in all probability both of them have lost. Such is life in parable land.
Concerning this a man once said: Why such reluctance? If you only followed the parables you yourselves would become parables and with that rid yourself of all your daily cares.
Another said: I bet that is also a parable.
The first said: You have won.
The second said: But unfortunately only in parable.
The first said: No, in reality: in parable you have lost.”
― Franz Kafka On Parables
Though in all probability both of them have lost. Such is life in parable land.
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