“If it had been possible to build the Tower of Babel without climbing it, it would have been permitted.”
- July 3, 1883 – June 3, 1924
- Born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Writer, lawyer
- Had a major influence on 20th century literature with works such as “The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle”
Quote
“If it had been possible to build the Tower of Babel without climbing it, it would have been permitted.”
Explanation
In this thought-provoking statement, Franz Kafka reflects on the nature of human ambition, effort, and the inherent limits of our desires. The Tower of Babel, a biblical symbol of hubris and the overreaching of human aspirations, represents the attempt to build something grand and transcendent, only to have it come crashing down due to its impossibility and the intervention of divine forces. Kafka’s twist on this story suggests that the problem is not the construction of the tower itself, but the climbing—the act of striving toward something that requires effort and sacrifice. If it were possible to achieve great things without struggle, Kafka implies, then those ambitions would be allowed or even encouraged. The struggle itself, the climbing, is what makes the human pursuit of meaning and power dangerous or unacceptable.
This idea touches on Kafka’s broader theme of existential futility—the endless striving of human beings, even in the face of insurmountable obstacles. Kafka’s characters, like Josef K. in The Trial or Gregor Samsa in The Metamorphosis, often find themselves caught in incomprehensible or absurd systems where their efforts to achieve something meaningful seem pointless or doomed to failure. The Tower of Babel, in this sense, serves as a metaphor for the unattainable aspirations that drive individuals to exert themselves, only to encounter frustration or disillusionment. Kafka’s quote suggests that the true tragedy lies not in having ambitions but in the struggle itself, which might be futile or misdirected, yet is deeply ingrained in the human condition.
In modern terms, this quote speaks to the contradiction in contemporary life where we are often encouraged to strive for success, growth, or achievement, yet the process of striving can seem overwhelming or even pointless. Whether it is the climb for career success, the pursuit of material wealth, or the quest for personal meaning, the very effort required often feels at odds with the fruitfulness of the goal. Kafka’s words could be read as a commentary on the impossibility of fully satisfying human desires or attaining perfection without a tremendous amount of sacrifice or loss. It’s a recognition that the ultimate fulfillment we seek is often unreachable, and the process of attempting to reach it can be more costly than the goal itself.
