The Trial
Franz Kafka
"There can be no doubt that
behind all the actions of this court of justice, that is to say in my case,
behind my arrest and today's interrogation, there is a great organization
at work. An organization which not only employs corrupt warders, oafish Inspectors,
and Examining Magistrates of whom the best that can be said is that they recognize
their own limitations, but also has at its disposal a judicial hierarchy of
high, indeed of the highest rank, with an indispensable and numerous retinue
of servants, clerks, police, and other assistants, perhaps even hangmen, I
do not shrink from that word. And the significance of this
great organization, gentlemen? It consists in this, that innocent persons are accused of guilt, and senseless
proceedings are put in motion against them..."