Berlin Alexanderplatz Quotes

“He swore to all the world and to himself that he would remain decent. And as long as he had money, he remained decent. But then he ran out of money, which was a moment he had been waiting for, to show them all what he was made of.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“So, go on rising, sun, you don't frighten us. We don't care about your many miles, your diameter, your volume. Warm sun, just rise, bright light, arise. You are not big, you are not small, you are happiness.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“So. Jetzt läßt das Zucken nach. Jetzt liegst du still. Wir sind am Ende von Physiologie und Theologie, die Physik beginnt.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“I have seen apes only at the fair, they must perform tricks, are chained up, a bitter fate, no human has one so hard”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“Drink, little brother, drink, leave your worries at home, feel no trouble, feel no pain, life is a jolly refrain, feel no trouble and feel no pain, life is a jolly refrain.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“The boy, Max Rüst, will later on become a tinker, father of seven more Rüsts, he will go to work for the firm of Hallis & Co., Plumbing and Roofing, in Grünau. At the age of 52 he will win a quarter of a prize in the Prussian Class Lottery, then he will retire from business and die during an adjustment suit which he has started against the firm of Hallis & Co., at the age of 55. His obituary will read as follows: On September, suddenly, from heart-disease, my beloved husband, our dear father, son, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle, Paul Rüst, in his 55th year. This announcement is made with deep grief on behalf of his sorrowing family by Marie Rüst. The notice of thanks after the funeral will read as follows: Acknowledgment. Being unable to acknowledge individually all tokens of sympathy in our bereavement, we hereby express our profound gratitude to all relatives, friends, as well as to the tenants of No. 4 Kleiststrasse and to all our acquaintances. Especially do we thank Herr Deinen for his kind words of sympathy. At present his Max Rüst is 14 years old, has just finished public school, is supposed to call by on his way there at the clinic for the defective in speech, the hard of hearing, the weak-visioned, the weak-minded, the in-corrigible, he has been there at frequent intervals, because he stutters, but he is getting better now.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“What are you afraid of, mister, it won’t be so bad. You won’t die. Berlin’s a big place. Where thousands live, there’s room for one more.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“Skurken är naturligtvis mer syndig, men dessa hedervärda utan hederskänsla är, om ni så vill, värda ett större förakt.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“All your decent work is slavery, didn’t you say so yourself, that’s what decent work is. Yep, and that’s what I found out.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“There is a reaper, death yclept, by Almighty God employed.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“There is a reaper, death yclept.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“Man muß die Welt sehen können und zu ihr hingehn." S.25”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“Men sedan man har upplevat och förstått mycket, att då ännu hålla fast, att icke dö utan känna, icke avvika utan hålla stånd, det är något.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“Così il cementiere, poi trasportatore di mobili, Franz Biberkopf, uomo rozzo e incolto, di aspetto ripugnante, è di nuovo a Berlino, di nuovo sulla breccia, un uomo di cui una volta s’era innamorata una bella ragazzina figlia di un fabbro e lui ne aveva fatto una puttana e alla fine l’aveva ferita mortalmente durante una scenata di gelosia. Ora ha giurato a sé e al mondo di vivere onestamente. E onesto visse finché ebbe denaro. Poi però il denaro se ne andò, ma egli aveva aspettato proprio questo momento per mostrare a tutti che era capace di fare.”
― Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz

“The boy, Max Rüst, will later on become a tinker, father of seven more Rüsts, he will go to work for the firm of Hallis & Co., Plumbing and Roofing, in Grünau. At the age of 52 he will win a quarter of a prize in the Prussian Class Lottery, then he will retire from business and die during an adjustment suit which he has started against the firm of Hallis & Co., at the age of 55. His obituary will read as follows: On September, suddenly, from heart-disease, my beloved husband, our dear father, son, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle, Paul Rüst, in his 55th year. This announcement is made with deep grief on behalf of his sorrowing family by Marie Rüst. The notice of thanks after the funeral will read as follows: Acknowledgment. Being unable to acknowledge individually all tokens of sympathy in our bereavement, we hereby express our profound gratitude to all relatives, friends, as well as to the tenants of No. 4 Kleiststrasse and to all our acquaintances. Especially do we thank Herr Deinen for his kind words of sympathy. At present his Max Rüst is 14 years old, has just finished public school, is supposed to call by on his way there at the clinic for the defective in speech, the hard of hearing, the weak-visioned, the weak-minded, the in-corrigible, he has been there at frequent intervals, because he stutters, but he is getting better now.”
― Alfred Doblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz