"A stair not worn hollow by footsteps is, regarded from its own point of view, only a boring something made of wood"

In this quote, Kafka is using a staircase as a metaphor for life. He recommends that a staircase that is not used down by footsteps is viewed as dull and typical, but from its own point of view, it is simply a piece of wood satisfying its purpose. Likewise, in life, we might feel irrelevant or unimportant, but from our own perspective, we are living our own unique experiences and satisfying our own function. This quote reminds us to not evaluate ourselves or others based upon external perceptions, however to instead accept our own individual journeys and point of views.