FROM THE PAGES OF

THE METAMORPHOSIS AND OTHER STORIES

As Gregor Samsa awoke from unsettling dreams one morning, he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.

(from “The Metamorphosis,” page 7)

 

All he wanted to do now was to get up quietly and undisturbed, get dressed, and, most important, eat breakfast, and only then consider what to do next, because, as he was well aware, in bed he could never think anything through to a reasonable conclusion.

(from “The Metamorphosis,” page 9)

 

During the daytime Gregor did not want to show himself at the window, if only out of consideration for his parents, but he could not crawl around very far in the few square meters of floor, nor could he bear to lie still even at night, and eating gave him scant pleasure, so as a distraction he acquired the habit of crawling crisscross over the walls and ceiling.

(from “The Metamorphosis,” page 29)

 

The sister played so beautifully. Her face was tilted to one side and she followed the notes with soulful and probing eyes. Gregor advanced a little, keeping his eyes low so that they might possibly meet hers. Was he a beast if music could move him so?

(from “The Metamorphosis,” page 44)

 

“Alone—do you know what that is?”

(from “The Judgment,” page 57)

 

Georg stared up at the monstrous specter of his father.

(from “The Judgment,” page 62)

 

“On a ship the morals change as often as the ports.”

(from “The Stoker,” page 69)

“Guilt is unquestionable.”

(from “In the Penal Colony,” page 100)

 

This was not the exquisite torture the officer had wished for; this was out-and-out murder.

(from “In the Penal Colony,” page 118)

 

A false ring of the night bell, once answered—it can never be made right. (from “A Country Doctor,” page 128)

 

No one was capable of spending all his days and nights keeping watch over the hunger artist, therefore no one person could be absolutely certain from firsthand knowledge that the fast had truly been constant and flawless; only the hunger artist himself could know that, and so at the same time only he could be a satisfied spectator of his own fast.

(from “A Hunger Artist,” page 138)

 

Josephine is the sole exception, she loves music and also knows how to give voice to it; she is the only one, and with her demise music will disappear—for who knows how long—from our lives.

(from “Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse People,” page 149)

 

We lead very uneasy lives; each day brings its surprises, anxieties, hopes, and fears; it would be impossible for any individual to bear it all without the constant support of his comrades.

(from “Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse People,” page 152)