Theodor W. Adorno

Auschwitz slaughterhouse animal

“Auschwitz begins wherever someone looks at a slaughterhouse and thinks: they’re only animals.”

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

intolerance ambiguity authoritarian

“Intolerance of ambiguity is the mark of an authoritarian personality.”

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

art uncommited crime

“Behind every work of art lies an uncommitted crime”

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

talent sublimated rage

“Talent is perhaps nothing other than successfully sublimated rage.”

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

freedom black white abjure prescribed choice

“freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices.”

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

manipulate freedom strong rich steal weak poor

"People have so manipulated the concept of freedom that it finally boils down to the right of the stronger and richer to take from the weaker and poorer whatever they still have."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

culture industry ideology conformity consciousness

"The power of the culture industry's ideology is such that conformity has replaced consciousness"

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

splinter eye magnifying glass

"The splinter in your eye is the best magnifying-glass available."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

people know want other

"People know what they want because they know what other people want."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

advice intellectuals no-one represent

"Advice to intellectuals: let no-one represent you."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

task art chaos order

"The task of art today is to bring chaos into order."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

science discard meaning concept formula cause rule probability

"On their way toward modern science human beings have discarded meaning. The concept is replaced by the formula, the cause by rules and probability."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

action calculated stupid quality AI

"When all actions are mathematically calculated, they also take on a stupid quality."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

life succession shocks empty paralysed intervals

"Life has changed into a timeless succession of shocks, interspaced with empty, paralysed intervals."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)

people top closing ranks deviation difference

"People at the top are closing ranks so tightly that all possibility of subjective deviation has gone, and difference can be sought only in the more distinguished cut of an evening dress."

― Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969)