Metropolis

“The mediator between head and hands must be the heart!””

— Thea von Harbou

“This book is not of today or of the future.It tells of no place.It serves no cause, party or class.It has a moral which grows on the pillar of understanding:“The mediator between brain and muscle must be the Heart.””

— Thea von Harbou

“Beautiful Maria, how Sweet are your hips... Is the man whom you love never to find that out? Beautiful Maria, listen to what I say to you: only a little to one side of this way, a flight of stairs leads steeply upward, leading to freedom... Your knees are trembling... how sweet that is! Do you think to overcome your weakness by clasping your hands? You call upon God, but believe me: God does not hear you! Since I came upon the earth as the great flood, to destroy all in existence but Noah’s ark, God has been deaf to the scream of His creatures.  Or did you think I had forgotten how the mothers screamed then? Have you more responsibility on your conscience than God on His? Turn back, beautiful Maria, turn back!””

— Thea von Harbou

“Du hast vergessen, daß Liebende heilig sind. Auch wenn sie sich irren, Joh; selbst ihr Irrtum ist heilig. Auch wenn sie Narren sind, Joh; selbst ihre Narrheit ist heilig. Denn wo Liebende sind, ist der Garten Gottes, und niemand hat das Recht, sie daraus zu vertreiben. Nicht einmal Gott.””

— Thea von Harbou

“That Brain and Hands no longer understand each other will one day destroy the New Tower of Babel. “Brain and Hands need a mediator. The Mediator between Brain and Hands must be the Heart. . . .””

— Thea von Harbou

“You have suffered,” thought his dream-filled brain.  “You have been redeemed by suffering.  You have attained to bliss... Is it worth while to suffer?-Yes.” And he walked out of the cathedral on feet which were still as though dead, tentatively, he stepped through the mighty door-way, stood dazzled in the light and swayed as though drunken. For the wine of suffering which he had drunk, was very heavy, and intoxicating, and white-hot. His soul spoke within him as he reeled along: “I will go home and look for my mother.””

— Thea von Harbou

“But I do, Joh! I still remember every syllable.  You said: ‘I don’t hear a word you say”

— Thea von Harbou

“Oh yes, Joh”

— Thea von Harbou

“Then came a time which pulled down antiquities.  Then the words were spoken: The house must die.  But the house was stronger than the words, as it was stronger than the centuries.  With suddenly falling stones it slew those who laid hands on its walls.  It opened the floor under their feet, dragging them down into a shaft, of which no man had previously had any knowledge.  It was as though the plague, which had formerly wandered in the wake of the red shoes of the magician, still crouched in the corners of the narrow house, springing out at men from behind, to seize them by the neck.””

— Thea von Harbou