Letters to Milena

by Franz Kafka

sleep is the most innocent creature there is and a sleepless man the most guilty.

I could sit at the feet of these letters, happy beyond measure; they bring rain on my burning head.

Is there as much patience as I need, Milena, anywhere in the world?

All these reflections, however, lead nowhere except to candor.

no one else has ever taken my side as knowingly and willingly as you, despite everything, despite everything (distinguish the great despite everything from the great nevertheless).

Yes, of course I’ll be happy to read through the last 10 letters again, although I know them very exactly. But look over mine again as well, you’ll find a whole girls’ school of questions.