“The tales of gouged-out eyes and severed hands which appear on the third or fourth day of every war filled the newspapers. They did not know, those innocents who spread such lies, that the accusation of every possible cruelty against the enemy is as much war materiel as are munitions and planes, and that they are systematically taken out of storage at the beginning of every war. War does not permit itself to be coordinated with reason and righteousness. [...] Shakespeare was banned from the German stage, Mozart and Wagner from the French and English concert halls, German professors declared that Dante had been Germanic, the French that Beethoven had been a Belgian, intellectual culture was requisitioned without scruple from the enemy countries like grain and ore. [...] After a few weeks, determined to escape this dangerous mass psychosis, I moved to a rural suburb to commence my personal war in the midst of war, the struggle against the betrayal of Reason by the current mass passion.”
Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig was an Austrian writer and dramatist, especially known for his psychologically sensitive novellas and biographies.
Zweig’s words remind us how propaganda and mass hysteria undermine reason in war, distorting cultural heritage against all values.
Translation or original: 🇩🇪Click here
Quelle: Hier klicken
i
Stefan Zweig Quotes on War, Reason, and Mass Hysteria – Revealing Insights
Discover Stefan Zweig’s profound insights on war, reason, and the destructive power of mass psychosis in his compelling quotes.
Stefan Zweig (1881–1942) was one of the most famous German-speaking writers of the early 20th century. Born in Vienna, he was known for works dealing with themes such as psychology, history, and the cultural tensions of his time. Due to his Jewish heritage and anti-fascist stance, Zweig left Europe during World War II and committed suicide in Brazil in 1942. His works continue to be highly regarded today.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!