"May I kiss you then? On this miserable paper? I might as well open the window and kiss the night air"
- Franz Kafka
About this Quote
In this quote, the speaker is revealing a desire to kiss someone, but they are unable to do so since they are separated by a piece of paper. Making use of the word "miserable" suggests that the paper is a barrier or challenge to their physical connection. The speaker then compares the paper to the night air, suggesting that it is simply as intangible and unfulfilling. This might be interpreted as a metaphor for the restrictions and aggravations of communication and human connection. The speaker's yearning for a kiss is increased by the impossibility of it, making the moment much more bittersweet.
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