Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno Quotes

A collection of quotes by Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno.

Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno (1903-1969) was a prominent German philosopher, sociologist, and musicologist. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany, into a prominent Jewish family. Adorno developed an early interest in music, studying composition and theory with renowned composer Alban Berg. He also became associated with the Frankfurt School, a group of critical theorists known for their Marxist-inflected approach to social and cultural critique.

Adorno's work covered a wide range of topics, but he is best known for his contributions to critical theory and aesthetics. He explored the ways in which capitalist society commodifies art and culture, influencing individuals' subjective experiences and perpetuating social inequalities. Adorno's writings, such as "Dialectic of Enlightenment" and "The Authoritarian Personality," analyzed the relationship between culture, ideology, and power, challenging dominant ideas and offering new perspectives for understanding the social world.

Throughout his life, Adorno faced exile, having to leave Germany due to Nazi persecution. He spent several years living in the United States before returning to Frankfurt in 1949. Adorno was a highly influential figure, both academically and politically, and his ideas continue to shape debates in disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies.

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Culture is only true when implicitly critical, and the mind

Culture is only true when implicitly critical, and the mind which forgets this revenges itself in the critics it breeds. Criticism is an indispensable element of culture.

Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno

Criticism

Art is permitted to survive only if it renounces the right t

Art is permitted to survive only if it renounces the right to be different, and integrates itself into the omnipotent realm of the profane.

Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno

Art

There are no more ideologies in the authentic sense of false

There are no more ideologies in the authentic sense of false consciousness, only advertisements for the world through its duplication and the provocative lie which does not seek belief but commands silence.

Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno

Ideology

Intolerance of ambiguity is the mark of an authoritarian per

Intolerance of ambiguity is the mark of an authoritarian personality.

Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno

Tolerance

Once the last trace of emotion has been eradicated, nothing

Once the last trace of emotion has been eradicated, nothing remains of thought but absolute tautology.

Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno

Emotions