Quotes from Christa Wolf

Daß es kein Unglück gibt außer dem, nicht zu leben. Und am Ende keine Verzweiflung außer der, nicht gelebt zu haben.

Ich bin sehr müde. Einen zusammenhängenden Schlaf habe ich seit Wochen nicht gehabt. Unglaubhaft, aber ich könnt jetzt einschlafen. Kann ja nichts mehr verschieben, auch den Schlaf nicht. Ungut, übermüdet in den Tod zu gehen.

I've seen what is interred with them so that they can get through the journey into the realm of the dead, and no doubt also so that they can buy their way in, gold, jewelry, food, even horses, sometimes servants as well; since then, I can see this whole glorious Corinth only as the fleeting reflection of that eternal necropolis, and it seems to me that they reign here too, the dead. Or what reigns is the fear of death. And I ask myself whether I shouldn't have stayed in Colchis.

Strange, though, that we can never catch it in the act.

A ciò che si è detto e ripetuto spesso, alla fine si crede.

To become oneself, with all one's strength. Difficult. A bomb, a speech, a rifle shot-and the world can look a different place. And then where is this "self"?

But who is being compelled? She herself? And to what end? To make her stay? --Let's put all the evasions behind us. No: the compulsion to make her stand and be recognized. Useless to pretend it's for her sake. Once and for all, she doesn't need us. So we should be certain of one thing: that it's for our sake. Because it seems we need her.

When we stop hoping, that which we fear will certainly come.