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27 Motivational Quotes By Thor Heyerdahl For The Adventurer In You

Famous As: Norwegian Adventurer and Ethnographer Known for His ‘Kon-Tiki’ and ‘Ra’ Transoceanic Scientific Expeditions
Born On: October 6, 1914
Died On: April 18, 2002
Born In: Larvik, Norway
Died At Age: 87
Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer, well-known for his ‘Kon-Tiki’ expedition of 1947. He created a record in this voyage by sailing eight thousand kilometers across the Pacific Ocean, which started from South Africa to the Tuamotu Islands in a hand build raft. The idea was to examine and demonstrate that people of ancient times could have possibly made long voyages and developed contacts across varied cultures. Being a natural storyteller, Heyerdahl later wrote a book which contained his experiences on his voyage entitled as ‘The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas’. This book became the best-selling book across the globe and was translated into 65 languages. He also made some other expeditions and was engaged in projects like ‘investigating mounds found on the Maldives Islands’, ‘Studying pyramids of Guimar’ and was an ‘active member of green politics’. Here is a collection of some thoughts and views by the distinguished adventurer which are till date quoted extensively. Presenting famous quotations and sayings by Thor Heyerdahl.
Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.

Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.

Thor Heyerdahl
Circumstances cause us to act the way we do. We should always bear this in mind before judging the actions of others. I realized this from the start during World War II.

Circumstances cause us to act the way we do. We should always bear this in mind before judging the actions of others. I realized this from the start during World War II.

Thor Heyerdahl
In my experience, it is rarer to find a really happy person in a circle of millionaires than among vagabonds.

In my experience, it is rarer to find a really happy person in a circle of millionaires than among vagabonds.

Thor Heyerdahl
I was in uniform for four years, and I know that heroism doesn't occur from taking orders, but rather from people who through their own willpower and strength are willing to sacrifice their lives for an idea.

I was in uniform for four years, and I know that heroism doesn't occur from taking orders, but rather from people who through their own willpower and strength are willing to sacrifice their lives for an idea.

Thor Heyerdahl
One learns more from listening than speaking. And both the wind and the people who continue to live close to nature still have much to tell us which we cannot hear within university walls.

One learns more from listening than speaking. And both the wind and the people who continue to live close to nature still have much to tell us which we cannot hear within university walls.

Thor Heyerdahl
I have never been able to grasp the meaning of time. I don't believe it exists. I've felt this again and again, when alone and out in nature. On such occasions, time does not exist. Nor does the future exist.

I have never been able to grasp the meaning of time. I don't believe it exists. I've felt this again and again, when alone and out in nature. On such occasions, time does not exist. Nor does the future exist.

Thor Heyerdahl
But if we begin thinking about the world being over 100 million years old, then it's absolutely by chance that you and I are sitting here alive today, while all the others are dead or have never been born.

But if we begin thinking about the world being over 100 million years old, then it's absolutely by chance that you and I are sitting here alive today, while all the others are dead or have never been born.

Thor Heyerdahl
For every minute, the future is becoming the past.

For every minute, the future is becoming the past.

Thor Heyerdahl
A civilized nation can have no enemies, and one cannot draw a line across a map, a line that doesn't even exist in nature and say that the ugly enemy lives on the one side, and good friends live on the other.

A civilized nation can have no enemies, and one cannot draw a line across a map, a line that doesn't even exist in nature and say that the ugly enemy lives on the one side, and good friends live on the other.

Thor Heyerdahl

It is also rarer to find happiness in a man surrounded by the miracles of technology than among people living in the desert of the jungle and who by the standards set by our society would be considered destitute and out of touch.

Thor Heyerdahl

Those who have experienced the most, have suffered so much that they have ceased to hate. Hate is more for those with a slightly guilty conscience, and who by chewing on old hate in times of peace wish to demonstrate how great they were during the war.

Thor Heyerdahl
Civilization grew in the beginning from the minute that we had communication - particularly communication by sea that enabled people to get inspiration and ideas from each other and to exchange basic raw materials.

Civilization grew in the beginning from the minute that we had communication - particularly communication by sea that enabled people to get inspiration and ideas from each other and to exchange basic raw materials.

Thor Heyerdahl
I also believe that when one dies, one may wake up to the reality that proves that time does not exist.

I also believe that when one dies, one may wake up to the reality that proves that time does not exist.

Thor Heyerdahl

Surrounded by military airplanes and warships from the world's most civilized and developed nations, we have been denied permission by friendly governments, for reasons of security, to land anywhere, but in the tiny, and still neutral, Republic of Djibouti.

Thor Heyerdahl
We have always been taught that navigation is the result of civilization, but modern archeology has demonstrated very clearly that this is not so.

We have always been taught that navigation is the result of civilization, but modern archeology has demonstrated very clearly that this is not so.

Thor Heyerdahl
In fighting nature, man can win every battle except the last. If he should win that too, he will perish, like an embryo cutting its own umbilical cord.

In fighting nature, man can win every battle except the last. If he should win that too, he will perish, like an embryo cutting its own umbilical cord.

Thor Heyerdahl
I don't believe in war as a solution to any kind of conflict, nor do I believe in heroism on the battlefield because I have never seen any.

I don't believe in war as a solution to any kind of conflict, nor do I believe in heroism on the battlefield because I have never seen any.

Thor Heyerdahl
Therefore, I feel convinced that any political picture can be changed to suit the needs of the powers that be.

Therefore, I feel convinced that any political picture can be changed to suit the needs of the powers that be.

Thor Heyerdahl
Borders I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.

Borders I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.

Thor Heyerdahl

We must wake up to the insane reality of our time. We are all irresponsible, unless we demand from the responsible decision makers that modern armaments must no longer be made available to people whose former battle axes and swords our ancestors condemned.

Thor Heyerdahl
It is progress when a centuries-old oak is cut down to give space for a road sign.

It is progress when a centuries-old oak is cut down to give space for a road sign.

Thor Heyerdahl
It is progress when weapons are improved to kill more people at a longer range.

It is progress when weapons are improved to kill more people at a longer range.

Thor Heyerdahl
Otherwise he was glad we had missed our landing, for he still had three books to read.

Otherwise he was glad we had missed our landing, for he still had three books to read.

Thor Heyerdahl
Progress can today be defined as man`s ability to complicate simplicity.

Progress can today be defined as man`s ability to complicate simplicity.

Thor Heyerdahl
It was a great moment on board when two large boobies were spotted above the horizon to westward

It was a great moment on board when two large boobies were spotted above the horizon to westward

Thor Heyerdahl
But you can’t navigate a raft,” he added. “It goes sideways and backward and round as the wind takes it.

But you can’t navigate a raft,” he added. “It goes sideways and backward and round as the wind takes it.

Thor Heyerdahl
The dolphin (dorado), which is a brilliantly colored tropical fish, must not be confused with the creature, also called dolphin, which is a small, toothed whale.

The dolphin (dorado), which is a brilliantly colored tropical fish, must not be confused with the creature, also called dolphin, which is a small, toothed whale.

Thor Heyerdahl