There lived a redheaded man who had no eyes or ears. He didnโt have hair either, so he was called a redhead arbitrarily. He couldnโt talk because he had no mouth. He had no nose either. He didnโt even have arms or legs. He had no stomach, he had no back, he had no spine, and he had no innards at all. He didnโt have anything. So we donโt even know who weโre talking about. Itโs better that we donโt talk about him any more.
Daniil KharmsI was most happy when pen and paper were taken from me and I was forbidden from doing anything. I had no anxiety about doing nothing by my own fault, my conscience was clear, and I was happy. This was when I was in prison.
Daniil KharmsOne must write poetry in such as way that if one threw the poem in a window, the pane would break.
Daniil KharmsEleven times Jesus died on the cross, Eleven times falls down a body thrown upward, Eleven times also I abandon the logical flow of thought.
Daniil KharmsIs there anything on earth which would have meaning and would even change the course of events not only on earth, but in other worlds?โ I asked my teacher. โThere is,โ my teacher answered me. โWell, what is it?โ I asked. โItโs...โ began my teacher and suddenly fell silent. I stood and waited intently for his answer. But he was silent. And I stood and was silent. And he was silent. And I stood, silent. And he was silent. Weโre both standing and silent. Ho-la-la! Weโre both standing and silent. Ho-le-le! Yes, yes, weโre both standing and silent! 16-17 July 1937
Daniil Kharms