It's the misfortune of German authors that not a single one of them dares to expose his true character. Everyone thinks that he has to be better than he is.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
People seem to need a likable protagonist more than ever.
The German mind has a talent for making no mistakes but the very greatest.
Kant and Hegel are interesting thinkers. But I am happy to insist that they are also terrible writers.
Every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic.
Any writer, I suppose, feels that the world into which he was born is nothing less than a conspiracy against the cultivation of his talent.
German readers are much like Brits or Americans: They read for the thrill of it, the occasional shudder down the spine, knowing it's not real - but looking over their shoulders anyway, just in case.
It seems that the fiction writer has a revolting attachment to the poor, for even when he writes about the rich, he is more concerned with what they lack than with what they have.
After the many rumours that we had heard about Hitler and the published criticisms we had read about him, we were pleasantly impressed. His appearance was neither pretentious nor affected.
Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.