Ivo Andric

afraid human inhuman

“One shouldn't be afraid of the humans. Well, I am not afraid of the humans, but of what is inhuman in them.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

brain ruling world fear

“If people would know how little brain is ruling the world, they would die of fear.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

hurt life pass happiness

“What doesn't hurt - is not life; what doesn't pass - is not happiness.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

fear hope happen dark space life

“Between the fear that something would happen and the hope that still it wouldn't, there is much more space than one thinks. On that narrow, hard, bare and dark space a lot of us spend their lives.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

land discovery injustice

“Lands of great discoveries are also lands of great injustices.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

build bridges belong equal

“Of everything that man erects and builds in his urge for living nothing is in my eyes better and more valuable than bridges. They are more important than houses, more sacred than shrines. Belonging to everyone and being equal to everyone, useful, always built with a sense, on the spot where most human needs are crossing, they are more durable than other buildings and they do not serve for anything secret or bad.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

human generation illusion civilization extinction flames

“Every human generation has its own illusions with regard to civilization; some believe they are taking part in its upsurge, others that they are witnesses of its extinction. In fact, it always both flames and smolders and is extinguished, according to the place and the angle of view.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

bridge humankind purpose need

"Of all the things created and built by humankind, nothing in my mind is better or worthier than bridges. They belong to all and treat all alike; they are useful, always built for purpose, at a spot where most human needs entwine."

- Ivo Andric (1892-1975)

hope desperate defiance monstrous odds

“Hope is an act of desperate defiance against monstrous odds.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

plan live life

“I don't plan anything any more. I just live my life.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

government promise peace prosperity guard expect

“Whenever a government feels the need of promising peace and prosperity to its citizens by means of a proclamation, it is time to be on guard and expect the opposite.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

speed business time money

“To those who boasted of the speed with which they could now finish their business and reckoned how much time money and effort they had saved, he replied ill-humouredly that it was not important how much time a man saved, but what he did with it when he had saved it. If he used it for evil purposes then it had been better he had never had it. He tried to prove that the main thing was not that a man went swiftly but where he went and for what purposes and that, therefore, speed was not always an advantage. 'If you are going to Hell, then it is better to go slowly.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)

speed business time money hell slowly

'If you are going to Hell, then it is better to go slowly.”

― Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)