Quotes from Friedrich Durrenmatt

Without tolerance, our world turns into hell.

It is inhuman to continue a war which could easily be ended

It is bad luck for world history that of all people the Russians adopted Communism, because they are totally unfit for it.

The evolution of humans can not only be seen as the grand total of their wars; it is also defined by the evolution of the human mind and the development of the human consciousness.

Humor is the mask of wisdom.

For people who have no critical acumen, a state is a mythical entity, for those who think critically it is a rational fiction, created by man in order to facilitate human coexistence.

Someone who is about to die does not mourn the dead.

Today's difference between Russia and the United States is that in Russia everybody takes everybody else for a spy, and in the United States everybody takes everybody else for a criminal.

A state always calls itself fatherland when it is ready for murder.

Every work of art depicts an aspect of reality.

Communism is a proposition to structure the world more reasonably, a proposition for changing the world. As such, we have to analyze it and, if we deem it reasonable, act upon it.

So then learn to conquer your fear. This is the only art we have to master nowadays: to look at things without fear, and to fearlessly do right.

The art of the cuisine, when fully mastered, is the one human capability of which only good things can be said.

Pretend to be dumb, that's the only way to reach old age.

Emotions have no place in business, unless you do business with them.

It is easy to kill when you don't see your victim.

A major power can afford a military debacle only when it looks like a political victory.

The freedom of each individual can only be the freedom of all.

The world is bad but not without hope. It is only hopeless when you look at it from an ideal viewpoint.

To not be afraid in our world is the message that doesn't derive from reason, but maybe from this mysterious capacity given to humans which we call--not without a little embarrassment--faith.

Who sows fear, reaps weapons.

That there is also freedom in captivity, only a prisoner can claim. Coming from a prison guard, this statement would be blasphemy.