“What am I good for? For nothing or for everything. That is a rare talent; I wonder if the world will appreciate it!”

— Søren Kierkegaard, Either/Or (1843), Part One, Diapsalmata

About Søren Kierkegaard

1813 – 1855

Danish philosopher and theologian, considered a founder of existentialism. Wrote on anxiety, faith and the individual in 'The Concept of Anxiety' (1844).

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“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.”

— Søren Kierkegaard

“The more one suffers, the more, I believe, has one a sense for the comic.”

— Søren Kierkegaard

“The next day is a powerless nothing if you yourself do not give it your strength.”

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“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

— Socrates

“It is unlikely that the good of a snail should reside in its shell: so is it likely that the good of a man should?”

— Epictetus

“In theory there is nothing to hinder our following what we are taught; but in life there are many things to draw us aside.”

— Epictetus

“If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages princes' palaces.”

— William Shakespeare

“That which makes the man no worse than he was makes his life no worse: it has no power to harm, without or within.”

— Marcus Aurelius

“Always take the short cut; and that is the rational one. Therefore say and do everything according to soundest reason.”

— Marcus Aurelius

“What am I good for? For nothing or for everything. That is a rare talent; I wonder if the world will appreciate it!”

About Søren Kierkegaard

More from Søren Kierkegaard

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