Welcome to a collection of insightful and thought-provoking quotes by Arthur Koestler, a Hungarian-British author, journalist, and intellectual. Koestler’s works span a wide range of topics, including politics, science, philosophy, and psychology, making him a multifaceted figure whose ideas continue to resonate with readers around the world. Born in Budapest in 1905, Koestler’s early experiences shaped his worldview, leading him to explore themes of totalitarianism, human nature, and the quest for meaning in his writing.
Throughout his career, Arthur Koestler’s sharp wit and keen observations provided readers with profound insights into the complexities of the human condition. His ability to blend literary excellence with incisive social commentary earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated following. Whether delving into the depths of despair or celebrating the triumph of the human spirit, Koestler’s words have the power to inspire, challenge, and enlighten.
One may not regard the world as a sort of metaphysical brothel for emotions. Arthur Koestler
Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears. Arthur Koestler
The prerequisite of originality is the art of forgetting, at the proper moment, what we know. Arthur Koestler
Politics can be relatively fair in the breathing spaces of history; at its critical turning points there is no other rule possible than the old one, that the end justifies the means. Arthur Koestler
A publisher who writes is like a cow in a milk bar. Arthur Koestler
The principal mark of genius is not perfection but originality, the opening of new frontiers. Arthur Koestler
True creativity often starts where language ends. Arthur Koestler
Nothing is more sad than the death of an illusion. Arthur Koestler
Prometheus is reaching out for the stars with an empty grin on his face. Arthur Koestler
The definition of the individual was: a multitude of one million divided by one million. Arthur Koestler
A writer’s ambition should be to trade a hundred contemporary readers for ten readers in ten years’ time and for one reader in a hundred years’ time. Arthur Koestler
The most persistent sound which reverberates through man’s history is the beating of war drums. Arthur Koestler
Creative activity could be described as a type of learning process where teacher and pupil are located in the same individual. Arthur Koestler
The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards. Arthur Koestler
Scientists are peeping toms at the keyhole of eternity. Arthur Koestler
The progress of science is strewn, like an ancient desert trail, with the bleached skeleton of discarded theories which once seemed to possess eternal life. Arthur Koestler