Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) was a Danish philosopher, theologian, and writer who is widely regarded as the “father of existentialism.” His works deeply influenced not only philosophy but also theology, psychology, and literature. Kierkegaard’s intellectual journey was characterized by a focus on individual subjectivity, the complexities of human existence, and the tension between faith and reason. His writing style, often paradoxical and profound, aimed to challenge individuals to confront their own existence and their relationship with the divine. Below, we explore 25 of his most profound quotes, which encapsulate the depth and breadth of his philosophical and theological insights.
1. “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
This quote captures the essence of Kierkegaard’s view on human existence. He believed that life, in its totality, is often experienced in a chaotic and fragmented way. It is only in reflection, looking backward, that one can make sense of the events, choices, and experiences that shape their life. However, we must continue living forward, making decisions and confronting challenges without the clarity of hindsight. This tension between the past and the future is a central theme in Kierkegaard’s exploration of human life.
2. “The most common form of despair is not being who you are.”
Kierkegaard’s concept of despair is not merely a feeling of sadness but a deeper existential condition. To despair, for him, is to fail to align one’s life with one’s true self, to live inauthentically. In this quote, he highlights the existential anguish that arises from not living in accordance with one’s true identity. This idea challenges individuals to examine their lives critically and to ask whether they are truly living according to their authentic desires, values, and beliefs.
3. “Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.”
In his work The Concept of Anxiety, Kierkegaard explores the idea that anxiety is a fundamental aspect of human existence. Anxiety arises when individuals confront the vast freedom they possess in making choices. It is the realization that with freedom comes responsibility, uncertainty, and the possibility of making wrong decisions. The feeling of dizziness, or vertigo, is the emotional response to the infinite possibilities before us and the weight of the decisions we must make.
4. “Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, you will also regret it; marry or don’t marry, you will regret both.”
This paradoxical statement reflects Kierkegaard’s belief that human life is full of choices that inevitably lead to some form of regret. He understood that no matter what decision a person makes, there will always be an element of dissatisfaction. This quote underscores the existential condition of living with regret and the impossibility of making the “perfect” choice. Kierkegaard’s philosophy often emphasized the tension between freedom and the limitations it brings.
5. “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.”
For Kierkegaard, suffering is an inevitable part of human existence, but how one responds to it determines the meaning one finds in life. This quote reflects his existentialist view that suffering is not something to be avoided or denied but rather something that can lead to personal growth and self-understanding. It is through confronting and making sense of suffering that individuals can find purpose and meaning in their lives.
6. “The self is not something that one finds. It is something one must become.”
Kierkegaard argued that the self is not a static entity to be discovered but a dynamic process that must be actively created. The journey toward becoming oneself is one of continuous struggle, choice, and transformation. In this quote, he emphasizes that identity is not given or predetermined but is something that is shaped by one’s actions, decisions, and relationship to the world and to God.
7. “Christianity does not make life easier but harder.”
Kierkegaard was deeply influenced by Christian theology, and he often explored the paradoxes and challenges of the Christian faith. He believed that following Christ was not a simple or easy path. It required radical commitment, self-denial, and the willingness to face existential anguish. For Kierkegaard, true Christianity demanded a profound personal transformation and the willingness to live in accordance with the paradoxes of faith—faith in the unseen, the acceptance of suffering, and the embrace of uncertainty.
8. “Boredom is the root of all evil.”
In this quote, Kierkegaard identifies boredom as a fundamental problem of modern life. For him, boredom reflects a lack of purpose, engagement, or meaning in life. It is a sign of existential dissatisfaction and a lack of connection to something larger than oneself. Kierkegaard believed that when individuals are bored, they are disconnected from their true selves and from the world around them, leading to despair and a search for superficial distractions.
9. “It is not what is done, but the motive for which it is done that matters.”
This quote highlights Kierkegaard’s focus on the inner dimension of human existence—the motivation behind actions. He believed that the true significance of any action lies in the individual’s subjective intention and purpose, rather than the external outcome or appearance of the action. For Kierkegaard, the question of “why” is far more important than the question of “what.” This reflects his deep concern with authenticity and the search for meaning in one’s life.
10. “In every walk of life, the issue is not so much whether the individual will be wrong, but whether the individual can learn from being wrong.”
Kierkegaard emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and embracing the lessons that come from failure. Life is full of uncertainty, and no one is immune from making wrong decisions. However, what matters most is the capacity to learn, grow, and adapt in response to these mistakes. This idea reflects Kierkegaard’s belief in the necessity of personal transformation through introspection and self-awareness.
11. “Without risk, there is no faith.”
For Kierkegaard, faith is inherently tied to risk. Faith is not a comfortable or rational certainty but a leap into the unknown, a willingness to trust and commit without the assurance of success or understanding. This quote reflects his belief that true faith requires the courage to face uncertainty and ambiguity. Faith, therefore, is an existential act that involves both risk and commitment.
12. “If you want to be a doctor, you must first practice medicine, but if you want to be a Christian, you must first be a sinner.”
Kierkegaard believed that Christianity is not about achieving moral perfection but about recognizing one’s inherent flaws and sinfulness. True Christian faith begins with acknowledging one’s need for redemption and understanding that one cannot attain salvation through works alone. This quote emphasizes the necessity of humility and self-awareness as the first step toward spiritual transformation.
13. “The paradox is really the pathos of the truth.”
Kierkegaard often explored the idea of paradox in his philosophy, particularly in the context of faith and existence. He believed that paradoxes—such as the simultaneous divinity and humanity of Christ—express the deepest truths of the human experience. The paradox represents the tension between the finite and the infinite, the rational and the irrational, and the temporal and the eternal. For Kierkegaard, these paradoxes were not contradictions but profound mysteries that demanded engagement.
14. “Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, and you will also regret it.”
This quote reflects Kierkegaard’s profound understanding of human nature and the complexity of life decisions. He believed that every choice we make inevitably leads to some form of regret, as life is marked by the inability to satisfy every possible desire or fulfill every potential possibility. This paradoxical reflection invites us to acknowledge the limits of our freedom and the inevitability of existential dissatisfaction.
15. “To be a Christian is to be a paradoxical human being.”
For Kierkegaard, Christianity involved a paradoxical relationship with existence. The Christian life, to him, was not about embracing easy answers but engaging with the tension between faith and reason, the divine and the human, the eternal and the temporal. The paradox of Christianity is that it calls individuals to both humility and greatness, suffering and redemption, doubt and belief.
16. “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”
This quote critiques the superficiality of much modern discourse. Kierkegaard suggests that while people often advocate for freedom of expression, they are not willing to engage deeply with the responsibility that comes with it. True freedom, for Kierkegaard, involves the freedom to think critically, reflect deeply, and question assumptions—not merely the freedom to speak without thought.
17. “The more a man knows, the more he realizes he doesn’t know.”
Kierkegaard’s existential philosophy involves recognizing the limits of human understanding and knowledge. As one gains insight into the complexities of life, the more one becomes aware of the vast unknowns that lie beyond. This quote highlights Kierkegaard’s humility regarding human wisdom and his emphasis on the unknown and the mysterious aspects of existence.
18. “I have been guilty of nothing but love.”
This quote speaks to the central role that love plays in Kierkegaard’s philosophy. Love, in Kierkegaard’s view, is not merely an emotion or a passing feeling but a profound commitment to the well-being of others, even in the face of suffering or sacrifice. For Kierkegaard, love is the highest expression of human existence and the foundation of ethical and spiritual life.
19. “What is a greater danger than to become a mere spectator of the world, instead of taking part in it?”
Kierkegaard believed that many people live their lives passively, observing the world around them without truly engaging in it. This quote highlights the danger of becoming detached from one’s own existence and the existential urgency of taking responsibility for one’s own life. For Kierkegaard, true engagement with life requires active participation, decision-making, and the willingness to confront life’s complexities and challenges. To be a mere spectator is to abdicate responsibility for one’s existence, which leads to a life of despair and inauthenticity.
20. “The greatest hazard of all, is to sit and do nothing.”
This quote further reinforces Kierkegaard’s belief in the importance of action and engagement with life. He viewed passivity as a form of existential risk, a way of avoiding responsibility for one’s own decisions and the potential for self-realization. Sitting idly and doing nothing is, in Kierkegaard’s terms, a denial of one’s freedom to choose and shape one’s destiny. True meaning and fulfillment, he believed, arise from action, from making choices, and from actively confronting the difficulties of existence.
21. “Subjectivity is truth.”
Kierkegaard’s emphasis on subjectivity is one of the most important elements of his philosophy. He argued that the individual’s experience, perspective, and relationship to truth are paramount. Objective truth, which can be measured and verified by external standards, may be significant, but it is subjective truth—the truth that comes from personal experience and inward reflection—that is ultimately meaningful. This quote underscores his existential belief that the individual, through introspection, must find their own truth, rather than relying solely on external authority or rational constructs.
22. “Guilt is the awareness that one is not what one is meant to be.”
Guilt, in Kierkegaard’s view, is not just a feeling of regret for specific actions but a deeper existential condition. It arises from the awareness that one is failing to live in accordance with one’s true self, the ideal self that one is meant to be. This awareness is a source of profound anguish, as it reveals the gap between one’s present existence and one’s ideal or potential self. Kierkegaard viewed guilt as a key component of the human condition, tied to the awareness of personal failure and the need for redemption.
23. “The most passionate of all, is the passionate man who makes up his mind, and resolves to find the truth at any cost.”
This quote reflects Kierkegaard’s belief in the importance of commitment and resolve in the pursuit of truth. For Kierkegaard, seeking truth was not a passive activity but a deeply passionate, active pursuit. It required determination, courage, and the willingness to face existential uncertainty and difficulty. In this sense, truth is not simply something one discovers but something one must relentlessly seek and be willing to sacrifice for.
24. “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”
Kierkegaard challenges the notion that life can be understood or resolved in purely rational terms. Instead, he encourages us to approach life as something to be experienced fully—embracing its complexity, paradoxes, and uncertainties. This view opposes a purely intellectual or problem-solving approach to life, urging us to experience the depth of our existence and the richness of our emotional and spiritual lives.
25. “There is no greater burden than a great potential.”
Kierkegaard recognized the weight that comes with great potential and the responsibility it imposes. The fear of not fulfilling one’s potential can be a profound source of anxiety. This quote captures the tension between the freedom to choose and the pressure to live up to one’s capabilities. The realization of one’s potential often requires significant effort, and the failure to achieve it can be a source of existential despair. Yet, Kierkegaard also believed that living authentically, even if it means embracing imperfection and limitations, is the path to overcoming this burden.
Conclusion
Søren Kierkegaard’s philosophy remains a cornerstone of existential thought and continues to resonate in the modern world. His insights into the nature of existence, faith, freedom, and the human condition offer profound reflections on the challenges and possibilities of human life. Kierkegaard’s emphasis on subjectivity, individual responsibility, and the importance of choice provides a deep counterpoint to more deterministic or reductionist views of human nature. His exploration of despair, guilt, anxiety, and faith offers a framework for understanding the emotional and spiritual aspects of human existence.
These 25 quotes reflect Kierkegaard’s intense engagement with the complexities of life, and they challenge us to confront our own existential dilemmas, question our assumptions, and seek authentic meaning. Whether through his reflections on despair and regret or his emphasis on the need for personal responsibility and faith, Kierkegaard’s work continues to inspire and provoke, encouraging us to live deeply, think critically, and act authentically.