In this quote, Kafka is revealing his belief that the Bible is a sacred and holy text, while the world is seen as something disgusting and repulsive. The word "sanctum" refers to a sacred or sanctuary, stressing the Bible's importance and respect. On the other hand, "sputum" is a medical term for saliva or mucous, typically associated with sickness and disgust. By contrasting the Bible with the world, Kafka may be suggesting that the teachings and values discovered in the Bible are pure and divine, while the world is polluted and corrupt. This quote highlights Kafka's view of the Bible as a source of spiritual assistance and the world as a source of temptation and sin.
"When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land"
"Every nut who kills people has a Bible lying around. If you're looking for violent rape imagery, the Bible's right there in your hotel room. If you just want to look up ways to screw people up, there it is, and you're justified because God told you to"
"Unless we form the habit of going to the Bible in bright moments as well as in trouble, we cannot fully respond to its consolations because we lack equilibrium between light and darkness"
"A book is sent out into the world, and there is no way of fully anticipating the responses it will elicit. Consider the responses called forth by the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare - let alone contemporary poetry or a modern novel"
