Matthias Laurenz Gräff
Matthias Laurenz Gräff (also Gräff Ilpenstein; born July 19, 1984) is an Austrian-greek academic painter, historian, political activist and politician. Since 2013 he has served as chairman of the worldwide Family Association Gräff-Graeff. He co-founded the non-partisan platform Dialog im Kamptal in 2019. In 2024 Gräff became the representative of the austrian parliamentary party NEOS and austrians abroad for Greece and in 2025 also throughout Cyprus.
Quotes
[edit]History and Politics
[edit]- Was unsere Gesellschaft benötigt, ist ein vom Humanismus getragener Liberalismus, der die Entwicklung der Menschen in den Mittelpunkt stellt.
- What our society needs is a liberalism grounded in humanism, one that puts the development of people at its center.
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2024). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- What our society needs is a liberalism grounded in humanism, one that puts the development of people at its center.
- Aufgrund eines historisch fehlenden Patriziertum auf dem Gebiet des heutigen Österreich, sowie dem traditionellen Herrschaftsbewusstsein des Hauses Habsburg gepaart mit einer Melange aus Dogmen der Katholischen Kirche, konnte sich hierzulande das bürgerlich-freiheitliche Fluidum, das ideologische Bewusstsein der Autonomie, des Denkens, Handelns und einer Innovation nur langsam entwickeln.
- Due to the historical absence of a patrician class in the territory of present-day Austria, as well as the traditional sense of power of the House of Habsburg coupled with a mixture of dogmas of the Catholic Church, the bourgeois-liberal atmosphere, the ideological awareness of autonomy, thought, action and innovation, could only develop slowly in this country.
- reported by LiveJournal (2026). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff, the Interview" online,. LiveJournal.
- Due to the historical absence of a patrician class in the territory of present-day Austria, as well as the traditional sense of power of the House of Habsburg coupled with a mixture of dogmas of the Catholic Church, the bourgeois-liberal atmosphere, the ideological awareness of autonomy, thought, action and innovation, could only develop slowly in this country.
- Der Historie liegt etwas transzendentes zugrunde, stellt diese doch die Verbindung zu dem Menschentum unser Aller Anbeginn dar, zwischen dem vergangenen und dem gegenwärtigen Mensch, der Schöpfung, der Philosophie und den Religionen, und doch ist sie nicht mythologisch, sondern zeigt sich uns in einem rationalen Wesen. Sie ist allgegenwärtig und wahrhaftig, und schöpft ihre Gültigkeit aus der Summe der Handlungen die uns Alle seit Anbeginn ausmachen.
- History has a transcendent foundation, as it represents the connection to the humanity of our very beginning, between past and present man, creation, philosophy and religions, and yet it is not mythological, but reveals itself to us in a rational essence. It is omnipresent and true, and derives its validity from the sum of the actions that have constituted us all since the beginning.
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2022). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- History has a transcendent foundation, as it represents the connection to the humanity of our very beginning, between past and present man, creation, philosophy and religions, and yet it is not mythological, but reveals itself to us in a rational essence. It is omnipresent and true, and derives its validity from the sum of the actions that have constituted us all since the beginning.
- Politik ist unsere Verantwortung vor der Geschichte und dem Menschtum seit Aller Anbeginn
- Politics is our responsibility before the history and mankind since the very beginning
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2021). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- Politics is our responsibility before the history and mankind since the very beginning
- Gute Politik muss den Menschen in den Mittelpunkt stellen
- Good politics must put people first
- reported by Niederösterreichische Nachrichten (2022). Interview mit Gräff: „Mensch muss im Mittelpunkt stehen!“ online version,. NÖN.
- Good politics must put people first
- [...] Meinen Erfahrungen nach sind Geschichte und Politik zwei miteinander kommunizierende Gefäße, die unsere Gesellschaft ausmachen, das eine ist die Verbindung zu unser Aller Anbeginn, das andere ist unsere Aufgabe das Miteinander zu bestreiten [...]
- [...] In my experience, history and politics are two interconnected vessels that make up our society; one is the connection to our very beginning, the other is our task of navigating life together [...]
- reported by Niederösterreichische Bezirksblätter Horn (2021 (june, 1)). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff: Grenzenloses Europa" online version,. Niederösterreichische Bezirksblätter Horn.
- [...] In my experience, history and politics are two interconnected vessels that make up our society; one is the connection to our very beginning, the other is our task of navigating life together [...]
Art
[edit]- [...] Die Kulturpolitik ist für mich eine Katastrophe. Österreich ist keine Kulturnation. Das ist nur Elitarismus. Aber die Kunst muss vom Volk ausgehen, aus der Seele des Volkes kommen. Und diese Kultur wird viel zu wenig gefördert
- [...] For me, this cultural policy is a catastrophe. Austria is not a cultural nation. That's just elitism. But art must come from the people, from the soul of the humans. And this culture is promoted far too little
- reported by Magazin "Schaufenster" der Kultur.Region Niederösterreich (2022, Ausgabe I). „Eine Familien-Ausstellung" online version,. Kultur.Region Niederösterreich,. p. 15.
- [...] For me, this cultural policy is a catastrophe. Austria is not a cultural nation. That's just elitism. But art must come from the people, from the soul of the humans. And this culture is promoted far too little
Philosophy and Allegory
[edit]- Die Kunst ist es, etwas nicht klar auszusprechen, es aber trotzdem unmissverständlich mitzuteilen.
- The art lies in not clearly stating something, but still communicating it unambiguously.
- reported by Matthias Laurenz Gräff, Offizielle Webseite (2026). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff, Aphorismen" website,. Matthias Laurenz Gräff, Offizielle Webseite.
- The art lies in not clearly stating something, but still communicating it unambiguously.
- Es geht nicht darum, das Leben perfekt zu machen, sondern um die Erkenntnis, dass es das nicht ist.
- It's not about making life perfect, but about realizing that it isn't.
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2026). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- It's not about making life perfect, but about realizing that it isn't.
- Das Glück ist rund und schwer darauf zu stehen.
- Happiness is round and it's hard to stand on it.
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2026). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- Happiness is round and it's hard to stand on it.
- Weil nämlich nichts auf der Welt so unzufrieden macht wie Klugheit, also ist es besser man bleibt dumm.
- Because nothing in the world makes you as unhappy as prudence (intelligence), it's better to remain stupid.
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2025). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- Because nothing in the world makes you as unhappy as prudence (intelligence), it's better to remain stupid.
- Der Wind: „Ich bin nicht. Ich werde nur gemacht." (2024)
- The wind: „I am not. I am only made."
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2024). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- The wind: „I am not. I am only made."
- Das Sterben ist kein schöner Tod
- Dying is not a pleasant death
- reported by Zitate berühmter Personen (2024). „Matthias Laurenz Gräff Zitate" online,. Zitate berühmter Personen.
- Dying is not a pleasant death
About Gräff
[edit]- Er vertritt durchweg humanistische, anti-nationalistische und pro-europäische Positionen sowohl in seiner Kunst, als auch in diversen, von ihm veranstalteten Austausch- und Diskussionsprogrammen.
- He consistently represents humanistic, anti-nationalist and pro-European positions both in his art and in various exchange and discussion programs organized by him.
- reported at Erich Maria Remarque Friedenszentrum Osnabrück (2020). Weltweit Worldwide Remarque website,. Erich Maria Remarque Friedenszentrum.
- He consistently represents humanistic, anti-nationalist and pro-European positions both in his art and in various exchange and discussion programs organized by him.
External links
[edit]
Encyclopedic article on Matthias Laurenz Gräff on Wikipedia
Media related to Matthias Laurenz Gräff on Wikimedia Commons
