There are two main human sins from which all the others derive: impatience and indolence. It was because of impatience that they were expelled from Paradise; it is because of indolence that they do not return. Yet perhaps there is only one major sin: impatience. Because of impatience they were expelled, because of impatience they do not return.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Impatience and indolence are framed as the root sins keeping humans from paradise.
- In plain terms
- Rushing out and not returning are the main human faults.
- What can you take from it?
- Patience and persistence are key to spiritual return.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What keeps you from returning to what matters?
- Is impatience your main flaw?
Another view
Other traditions identify different root sins like pride or envy.
More from Franz Kafka
All human errors are impatience, the premature breaking off of what is methodical, an apparent fencing in of the apparent thing.
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