The Rat Quotes

“Because men
are killing the forests
the fairy tales are running away.
The spindle doesn't know
whom to prick,
the little girl's hands
that her father has chopped off,
haven't a single tree to catch hold of,
the third wish remains unspoken.
King Thrushbeard no longer owns one thing.
Children can no longer get lost.
The number seven means no more than exactly seven.
Because men have killed the forests,
the fairy tales are trotting off to the cities
and end badly.”
― Gunter Grass, Rat

“The rat in man and the human element in the rat are beginning to make themselves felt.”
― Gunter Grass, The Rat

“And once they've dragged and driven one another far enough into the land of Onceuponatime, the landless peasants and prisoners, along with the soldiers guarding them, start hoping that they will finally find land, get better pay, and be free from chains. So full of promise is the past.”
― Gunter Grass, The Rat

“Homo sapiens will be healed by Rattus norvegicus. Creation will become reality. The future belongs to the rat-man.”
― Gunter Grass, The Rat

“Doomadosh!”
― Gunter Grass, The Rat