What an interesting quote this is of Kafka's. Reminds me a bit of the sentiment in Ozymandias.
The tusks that clashed in mighty brawls of mastodons, are billiard balls.
The sword of Charlemagne the Just is ferric oxide, known as rust.
The grizzly bear whose potent hug was feared by all, is now a rug.
Great Caesar’s bust is on my shelf, and I don’t feel so well myself.