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114 Insightful Quotes By Soren Kierkegaard On Fear, Regret, Existentialism And More

Famous As: Religious Author Who is Considered to be the First 'Existentialist' Philosopher
Born On: May 5, 1813
Died On: November 11, 1855
Born In: Copenhagen, Denmark
Died At Age: 42
Soren Kierkegaard was a celebrated Danish poet, philosopher, social critic, theologian and religious author. He is also regarded as the foremost existentialist philosopher. His writings included critical texts on philosophy of religions, organized religion, morality, psychology, ethics and Christendom. Kierkegaard’s thoughts, views, opinions and writings exhibited his endearment for parables, metaphor and irony. ‘Socrates’ and ‘Socratic Methods’ served as a source of inspiration to him. The psychological works by him probed the feelings and emotions of individuals when faced with life’s choices. His key concepts included objective and subjective truths, faith as a passion, three stages of life’s way, the knight of faith and the infinite qualitative distinction amongst others. Following is a compilation of some famous sayings and quotes by Soren Kierkegaard whose writings till date has a wide readership and are quoted extensively.
God creates everything out of nothing. And everything which God is to use, he first reduces to nothing

God creates everything out of nothing. And everything which God is to use, he first reduces to nothing

Soren Kierkegaard
The deepest form of despair is to choose to be another than himself.

The deepest form of despair is to choose to be another than himself.

Soren Kierkegaard
Happiness is the greatest hiding place for despair.

Happiness is the greatest hiding place for despair.

Soren Kierkegaard
Once you are born in this world you’re old enough to die.

Once you are born in this world you’re old enough to die.

Soren Kierkegaard
Wherever there is a crowd there is untruth.

Wherever there is a crowd there is untruth.

Soren Kierkegaard
The truth is lived before it is understood. It must be fought for, tested, and appropriated. Truth is the way... Anyone will easily understand it if he just gives himself to it.

The truth is lived before it is understood. It must be fought for, tested, and appropriated. Truth is the way... Anyone will easily understand it if he just gives himself to it.

Soren Kierkegaard
To be a woman is something so strange, so confusing and so complicated that only a woman could put up with it.

To be a woman is something so strange, so confusing and so complicated that only a woman could put up with it.

Soren Kierkegaard
A genius may perhaps be a century ahead of his age and hence stands there as a paradox, but in the end, the race will assimilate what was once a paradox, so it is no longer paradoxical.

A genius may perhaps be a century ahead of his age and hence stands there as a paradox, but in the end, the race will assimilate what was once a paradox, so it is no longer paradoxical.

Soren Kierkegaard
Confidence is the present tense of hope.

Confidence is the present tense of hope.

Soren Kierkegaard
The unhappy person is never present to themself because they always live in the past or the future.

The unhappy person is never present to themself because they always live in the past or the future.

Soren Kierkegaard
To cheat oneself out of love is the most terrible deception; it is an eternal loss for which there is no reparation, either in time or in eternity.

To cheat oneself out of love is the most terrible deception; it is an eternal loss for which there is no reparation, either in time or in eternity.

Soren Kierkegaard
Don't you know that a midnight hour comes when everyone has to take off his mask? Do you think life always lets itself be trifled with? Do you think you can sneak off a little before midnight to escape this?

Don't you know that a midnight hour comes when everyone has to take off his mask? Do you think life always lets itself be trifled with? Do you think you can sneak off a little before midnight to escape this?

Soren Kierkegaard
What if everything in the world were a misunderstanding, what if laughter were really tears?

What if everything in the world were a misunderstanding, what if laughter were really tears?

Soren Kierkegaard
O Luther, you had 95 theses . . . The matter is far more terrible-there is only one thesis. The Christianity of the New Testament does not exist at all. Here there is nothing to reform.

O Luther, you had 95 theses . . . The matter is far more terrible-there is only one thesis. The Christianity of the New Testament does not exist at all. Here there is nothing to reform.

Soren Kierkegaard
Christ has not only spoken to us by his life but has also spoken for us by his death.

Christ has not only spoken to us by his life but has also spoken for us by his death.

Soren Kierkegaard
It is better to try something and fail than to try nothing and succeed. The result may be the same, but you won't be. We always grow more through defeats than victories.

It is better to try something and fail than to try nothing and succeed. The result may be the same, but you won't be. We always grow more through defeats than victories.

Soren Kierkegaard
The object of (Christian) faith is not the teaching but the Teacher.

The object of (Christian) faith is not the teaching but the Teacher.

Soren Kierkegaard
Are you not aware that there comes a midnight hour when everyone must unmask...

Are you not aware that there comes a midnight hour when everyone must unmask...

Soren Kierkegaard
The minority is always stronger than the majority, because the minority is generally formed by those who really have an opinion.

The minority is always stronger than the majority, because the minority is generally formed by those who really have an opinion.

Soren Kierkegaard
For without risk there is no faith, and the greater the risk, the greater the faith.

For without risk there is no faith, and the greater the risk, the greater the faith.

Soren Kierkegaard
It is not where we breathe, but where we Love, that we live.

It is not where we breathe, but where we Love, that we live.

Soren Kierkegaard
A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized prayer is listening.

A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized prayer is listening.

Soren Kierkegaard
It is not the path which is the difficulty; rather, it is the difficulty which is the path.

It is not the path which is the difficulty; rather, it is the difficulty which is the path.

Soren Kierkegaard
Most people are subjective toward themselves and objective toward all others, frightfully objective sometimes--but the task is precisely to be objective toward oneself and subjective toward all others.

Most people are subjective toward themselves and objective toward all others, frightfully objective sometimes--but the task is precisely to be objective toward oneself and subjective toward all others.

Soren Kierkegaard
Love is the expression of the one who loves, not of the one who is loved. Those who think they can love only the people they prefer do not love at all. Love discovers truths about individuals that others cannot see

Love is the expression of the one who loves, not of the one who is loved. Those who think they can love only the people they prefer do not love at all. Love discovers truths about individuals that others cannot see

Soren Kierkegaard
People settle for a level of despair they can tolerate and call it happiness.

People settle for a level of despair they can tolerate and call it happiness.

Soren Kierkegaard
I found I had less and less to say, until finally, I became silent, and began to listen. I discovered in the silence, the voice of God

I found I had less and less to say, until finally, I became silent, and began to listen. I discovered in the silence, the voice of God

Soren Kierkegaard
The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have.

The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have.

Soren Kierkegaard
One can advise comfortably from a safe port.

One can advise comfortably from a safe port.

Soren Kierkegaard
The most common form of despair is not being who you are.

The most common form of despair is not being who you are.

Soren Kierkegaard