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Ernst Toller
42quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Ernst Toller was born as Ernst Leopold Toller on December 1, 1893, in Samotschin, Prussia (now Sokolëc, Poland). He is also known by his pen name "Erich Maria Frey".
Birth and Death Dates
December 1, 1893 – May 22, 1939
Nationality and Profession(s)
Ernst Toller was a German playwright, poet, and pacifist. His work was heavily influenced by the tumultuous events of his time, including World War I and the subsequent Weimar Republic.
Early Life and Background
Toller's family moved to Munich in 1903, where he developed an interest in literature and began writing poetry. He joined the German army at the outbreak of World War I but was wounded twice and eventually became disillusioned with the conflict, leading him to become a vocal critic of militarism.
Major Accomplishments
Toller's work as a playwright is notable for its innovative style, which blended elements of Expressionism and realism. He wrote several influential plays, including _"Masse Mensch" (Man and Masses)_ , _"Hinkemann"_ , and _"Hopfenspiel"_ . His poetry, too, explored themes of war, peace, and social justice.
Notable Works or Actions
Toller's most famous play, _"Hinkemann"_ , premiered in 1923 to great acclaim. It tells the story of a veteran struggling with the trauma of war and his subsequent decline into madness. This work, along with others, solidified Toller's reputation as one of Germany's leading playwrights.
Impact and Legacy
Toller's pacifist views and critiques of militarism resonated deeply with audiences after World War I. His plays often explored the consequences of conflict on individuals and society, providing a poignant commentary on the devastating effects of war.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Ernst Toller is remembered for his powerful and thought-provoking works, which continue to resonate today. His commitment to peace and social justice has inspired generations of writers, artists, and activists. His writing often explores themes of human experience, trauma, and the consequences of conflict, making him a widely quoted and studied figure in literary circles.
Toller's life was marked by both creativity and turmoil. He was imprisoned for his anti-war activities during World War I and later fled to Switzerland after the Nazi Party came to power in Germany. His experiences shaped his writing, which remains a testament to his unwavering commitment to peace and social justice.
Quotes by Ernst Toller
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In a quiet Franciscan monastery kind and silent monks looked after me. After many weeks I was discharged. Unfit for further service.
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I was at the front for thirteen months, and by the end of that time the sharpest perceptions had become dulled, the greatest words mean.
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As a rule, people are afraid of truth. Each truth we discover in nature or social life, destroys the crutches on which we need to lean.
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The French got enough from the Germans to save them from starvation; but many a woman sold herself for a loaf or a chunk of sausage.
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I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care of: for this moment I know where I am going.
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There are no people who are whole" he says. "Everyone has issues of their own to deal with. Mine might be a little harder, but the main thing is how on deals with them.
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This vast life - the real, interior one in which we remain linked to the dead (because the dream inside us ignores trivialities like breath, or absence) - this vast life is not under our control. Everything we have seen and everyone we have known goes into us and constitutes us, whether we like it or not. We are linked together in a pattern we cannot see and whose effects we cannot know.
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I remember learning German - so beautiful, so strange - at school in Australia on the other side of the earth. My family was nonplussed about me learning such an odd, ugly language and, though of course too sophisticated to say it, the language of the enemy. But I liked the sticklebrick nature of it, building long supple words by putting short ones together. Things could be brought into being that had no name in English - Weltanschauung, Schadenfreude, sippenhaft, Sonderweg, Scheissfreundlichkeit, Vergangenheitsbewältigung.
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Memory, like so much else, is unreliable. Not only for what it hides and what it alters, but also for what it reveals.
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