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51 Great Quotes By Theodor W. Adorno

Famous As: German Philosopher, Sociologist, Psychologist and Composer
Born On: September 11, 1903
Died On: August 6, 1969
Born In: Frankfurt, Germany
Died At Age: 65
Theodor Ludwig Wiesengrund, who is distinguished as Theodor W. Adorno, was a German sociologist, music composer and philosopher, who lived in the 20th century and is particularly famous for propounding the critical theory of society. He studied sociology, philosophy and psychology at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University and is regarded among the most important members of the Frankfurt School of critical theory. His theories were known to be far more advanced than the sociologists of his time and it is not a surprise that Adrorno’s works are still revered by sociologists of all hues across the world. On the other hand, he was a passionate critic of fascism and wrote withering books on the same. Some of the more famous ones include ‘Negative Dialectics’, ‘Dialectic of Enlightenment’ and ‘Minima Moralia’ among others and it is often stated that his works had a profound influence on the development of the ideas of the left wing in Europe. Adorno was a multi-talented man, who was not only among the leading sociologists of his time but also a talented music composer who created number of well received musical compositions during his lifetime. We bring to you a treasure trove of quotes that have been excerpted from his work, books and writings. Read on to explore a compilation of some of the best known quotes by Theodor W. Adorno.
Auschwitz begins wherever someone looks at a slaughterhouse and thinks: they’re only animals.

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

Theodor W. Adorno
Intolerance of ambiguity is the mark of an authoritarian personality.

Intolerance of ambiguity is the mark of an authoritarian personality.

Theodor W. Adorno
The splinter in your eye is the best magnifying-glass available.

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

Theodor W. Adorno
Behind every work of art lies an uncommitted crime

Behind every work of art lies an uncommitted crime

Theodor W. Adorno
People know what they want because they know what other people want.

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

Theodor W. Adorno
Love you will find only where you may show yourself weak without provoking strength.

Love you will find only where you may show yourself weak without provoking strength.

Theodor W. Adorno
Dissonance is the truth about harmony.

Dissonance is the truth about harmony.

Theodor W. Adorno
There is no right life in the wrong one.

There is no right life in the wrong one.

Theodor W. Adorno
Freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices.

Freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices.

Theodor W. Adorno
Talent is perhaps nothing other than successfully sublimated rage.

Talent is perhaps nothing other than successfully sublimated rage.

Theodor W. Adorno
Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth.

Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth.

Theodor W. Adorno
One must have tradition in oneself, to hate it properly.

One must have tradition in oneself, to hate it properly.

Theodor W. Adorno
Only thought which does violence to itself is hard enough to shatter myth.

Only thought which does violence to itself is hard enough to shatter myth.

Theodor W. Adorno
Writing poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric.

Writing poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric.

Theodor W. Adorno
Very evil people cannot really be imagined dying.

Very evil people cannot really be imagined dying.

Theodor W. Adorno
Horror is beyond the reach of psychology.

Horror is beyond the reach of psychology.

Theodor W. Adorno
There is no love that is not an echo.

There is no love that is not an echo.

Theodor W. Adorno
The darkening of the world makes the irrationality of art rational: radically darkened art.

The darkening of the world makes the irrationality of art rational: radically darkened art.

Theodor W. Adorno
Laughing in the cultural industry is mockery of happiness.

Laughing in the cultural industry is mockery of happiness.

Theodor W. Adorno
What can oppose the decline of the west is not a resurrected culture but the utopia that is silently contained in the image of its decline.

What can oppose the decline of the west is not a resurrected culture but the utopia that is silently contained in the image of its decline.

Theodor W. Adorno
True thoughts are those alone which do not understand themselves.

True thoughts are those alone which do not understand themselves.

Theodor W. Adorno
To those who no longer have a homeland, writing becomes home

To those who no longer have a homeland, writing becomes home

Theodor W. Adorno
Art is the social antithesis of society, not directly deducible from it.

Art is the social antithesis of society, not directly deducible from it.

Theodor W. Adorno
The forms of art reflect the history of man more truthfully than do documents themselves.

The forms of art reflect the history of man more truthfully than do documents themselves.

Theodor W. Adorno
Of the world as it exists, it is not possible to be enough afraid.

Of the world as it exists, it is not possible to be enough afraid.

Theodor W. Adorno
The triumph of advertising in the culture industry is that consumers feel compelled to buy and use its products even though they see through them.

The triumph of advertising in the culture industry is that consumers feel compelled to buy and use its products even though they see through them.

Theodor W. Adorno
Beauty today can have no other measure except the depth to which a work resolves contradictions. A work must cut through the contradictions and overcome them, not by covering them up, but by pursuing them.

Beauty today can have no other measure except the depth to which a work resolves contradictions. A work must cut through the contradictions and overcome them, not by covering them up, but by pursuing them.

Theodor W. Adorno
In the innermost recesses of humanism, as its very soul, there rages a frantic prisoner who, as a Fascist, turns the world into a prison.

In the innermost recesses of humanism, as its very soul, there rages a frantic prisoner who, as a Fascist, turns the world into a prison.

Theodor W. Adorno
Art respects the masses, by confronting them as that which they could be, rather than conforming to them in their degraded state.

Art respects the masses, by confronting them as that which they could be, rather than conforming to them in their degraded state.

Theodor W. Adorno
It is not the office of art to spotlight alternatives, but to resist by its form alone the course of the world, which permanently puts a pistol to men's heads.

It is not the office of art to spotlight alternatives, but to resist by its form alone the course of the world, which permanently puts a pistol to men's heads.

Theodor W. Adorno