Kierkegaard, a profound philosopher, offers timeless wisdom through his reflective quotes. In this article, we explore 10 different themes of his quotes to provide insight into his complex philosophy. Each theme, from the profound existential questions to the nuances of love, speaks to different facets of human life and thought. Whether you seek inspiration, introspection, or understanding, Kierkegaard's words are sure to resonate and provoke thoughtful contemplation. Let us delve into these thematic arenas and uncover the philosophical treasures that Kierkegaard has left behind for us.
Existentialism Quotes
"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
"Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom."
"Faith sees best in the dark."
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
"The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do."
"Don't forget to love yourself."
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
"Once you label me you negate me."
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."
"The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have."
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"Hope is passion for what is possible."
Love Quotes
"Love is all, it gives all, and it takes all."
"Marriage brings one into fate."
"It belongs to the imperfection of everything human that man can only attain his desire by passing through its opposite."
"The most common form of despair is not being who you are."
"Love does not alter the beloved, it alters the lover."
"Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many in every generation may not come that far, but none comes further."
"Love is the expression of the one who loves, not of the one who is loved."
"Love is the mood of telling the truth."
"At the bottom of enmity between strangers lies indifference."
"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."
"If anyone on the verge of action should judge himself according to the outcome, he would never begin."
"When one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world – no matter how imperfect – becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for love."
Faith and Belief Quotes
"Faith is the objective uncertainty."
"Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."
"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays."
"To be a Christian is to be like the Savior. Theology is only part of that."
"Faith begins precisely where reason stops."
"Leap, and the net will appear."
"What if everything in the world were a misunderstanding, what if laughter were really tears?"
"I believe that you are worth more than you think."
"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth."
"Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts."
"Without risk, there is no faith."
"Only by coming to take the deep plunge will you find the grasping hand of faith."
Truth and Understanding Quotes
"The truth is a snare: you cannot have it, without being caught."
"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true."
"Truth is not introduced into the individual from without, but was within him all the time."
"To cheat oneself out of love is the most terrible deception."
"If anyone on the verge of action should judge himself according to the outcome, he would never begin."
"When one has once fully entered the realm of truth, the world – no matter how imperfect – becomes rich and beautiful."
"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."
"The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins."
"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays."
"People understand me so poorly that they don't even understand my complaint about them not understanding me."
"In the end, everyone is acquisitions and profits, while truth in its grandeur holds its breath."
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
Philosophy of Self Quotes
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."
"Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts."
"Once you label me you negate me."
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk."
"The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have."
"The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do."
"Hope is passion for what is possible."
"To have faith is to lose your mind and win your soul."
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."
"When you don't have someone to be able to achieve great things with, loneliness can offer the intensity to do them anyway."
"One must first work on oneself before anyone can be effective elsewhere."
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
Life and Existence Quotes
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
"Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom."
"The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do."
"Don't forget to love yourself."
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."
"Faith sees best in the dark."
"The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have."
"To venture causes anxiety, but not to venture is to lose one’s self."
"Once you label me you negate me."
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"Hope is passion for what is possible."
"Pain reconciles us to life."
Wisdom and Insight Quotes
"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
"The most common form of despair is not being who you are."
"Truth is a snare: you cannot have it, without being caught."
"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true."
"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays."
"To cheat oneself out of love is the most terrible deception."
"When one has once fully entered the realm of truth, the world – no matter how imperfect – becomes rich and beautiful."
"The truth is a snare: you cannot have it, without being caught."
"Once you label me you negate me."
"To venture causes anxiety, but not to venture is to lose one’s self."
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk."
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
Consciousness and Identity Quotes
"The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have."
"The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do."
"Hope is passion for what is possible."
"Once you label me you negate me."
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
"Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom."
"The most common form of despair is not being who you are."
"Faith sees best in the dark."
"Don't forget to love yourself."
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."
Ethics and Morality Quotes
"To have faith is to lose your mind and win your soul."
"Faith begins precisely where reason stops."
"What if everything in the world were a misunderstanding, what if laughter were really tears?"
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"Truth is not introduced into the individual from without, but was within him all the time."
"The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins."
"At the bottom of enmity between strangers lies indifference."
"The most common form of despair is not being who you are."
"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."
"In the end, everyone is acquisitions and profits, while truth in its grandeur holds its breath."
"If anyone on the verge of action should judge himself according to the outcome, he would never begin."
"Faith is the objective uncertainty."
Courage and Fear Quotes
"The more one suffers, the more, I believe, has one a feeling for the sublime."
"To venture causes anxiety, but not to venture is to lose one’s self."
"Leap, and the net will appear."
"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others."
"Without risk, there is no faith."
"Hope is passion for what is possible."
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."
"Once you label me you negate me."
"Faith begins precisely where reason stops."
"The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins."
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."
Final words
Kierkegaard’s quotations serve as a gateway to deeper understanding of not only his philosophy but also the essence of human existence. His thoughts on existentialism, love, faith, and courage continue to inspire and challenge readers to think more critically about their lives and beliefs. In summarizing the above quotes, we find a call to embrace life's complexities, a suggestion to find meaning in our struggles, and a reminder of the transformative power of self-awareness and faith. Each quote is a reflection of Kierkegaard's belief in the importance of inner examination, personal growth, and the pursuit of truth. As you ponder over these wise words, take them as an invitation to explore your own philosophical inquiries and personal truths, mirroring Kierkegaard’s timeless journey of understanding the human spirit.
