Where did Franz Kafka say, "Then you don't even have to leave the
room.  Remain sitting at your table and listen.  You do not even need
to listen...The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked.
It has no choice; it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."
    I need to know in exactly what book, etc. did he say that, if
possible in what context so I can find the page numbers. Time is of
the essence! Scripto helped me before--if he is not on vacation,
maaybe he can help me again.  I have several more questions coming now
also--I'll list them separately.Thank you,  Sylvia Karasu, M.D.

Hello sylk-ga,

This quotation comes from a set of aphorisms entitled "Betrachtungen
über Sünde, Leid, Hoffnung und den wahren Weg" (translated as
"Reflections on Sin, Suffering, Hope and the True Way"), published
after Kafka's death in "Beim Bau der chinesischen Mauer" (translated
as "The Great Wall of China: Stories and Reflections").  It is found
at the end of the last aphorism, number 109.

Here is the text in German: "Es ist nicht notwendig, daß du aus dem
Hause gehst. Bleib bei deinem Tisch und horche.  Horche nicht einmal,
warte nur.  Warte nicht einmal, sei völlig still und allein.  Anbieten
wird sich dir die Welt zur Entlarvung, sie kann nicht anders, verzückt
wird sie sich vor dir winden."

"Betrachtungen über Sünde, Leid, Hoffnung und den wahren Weg"
Prokejt Gutenberg-DE
http://gutenberg.spiegel.de/kafka/aphorism/suende.htm

The set of aphorisms is also known, appropriately, as "Aphorismen"
("Aphorisms").

"Aphorismen (aus dem Nachlaß)"
Constructing Franz Kafka
http://www.pitt.edu/~kafka/aphorismen.html

There is an indication on one web page that the translation in "The
Great Wall of China" is a little different than the one you have
posted.  In that case, you might want to consult Kafka's "Blue Octavo
Notebooks", in which the first draft of these aphorisms was originally
written.

"Reflections on Sin, Suffering, Hope, and the True Way"
eigengrau.com
http://www.eigengrau.com/kafka/reflections.html

Please let me know if you need further information.

- justaskscott-ga


Search terms used on Google:

Excerpts from the quotation you posted
Kafka

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Clarification of Answer by justaskscott-ga on 22 Aug 2002 14:44 PDT

I mistakenly transposed a couple of letters: it's actually "Projekt Gutenberg-DE".

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Clarification of Answer by justaskscott-ga on 22 Aug 2002 14:52 PDT

Incidentally, you may wonder how I know that "Betrachtungen
über Sünde, Leid, Hoffnung und den wahren Weg" comes from "Beim Bau
der chinesischen Mauer".  Here is my source for this information:

"A Selected Kafka Bibliography (based on A Kafka Bibliography
1908-1976
by Angel Flores)"
Constructing Franz Kafka
http://www.pitt.edu/~kafka/biblio.html

Excellent answer--I was able to verify the answer in the reference
given--Kafka's Blue Octavo Notebooks. Thank you so much for your help
and for such prompt and scholarly work.
Best,
Sylvia Karasu, M.D.