Soren Kierkegaard

"To despair over one's sins indicates that sin has become or wants to be internally consistent. It wants nothing to do with the good, does not want to be so weak as to listen occasionally to other talk. No, it insists on listening only to itself, on having dealings only with itself; it closes itself up within itself, indeed, locks itself inside one more inclosure, and protects itself against every attack or pursuit by the good by despairing over sin."

9 likes

Source: Soren Kierkegaard (2005). “Fear and Trembling”, p.21, Penguin UK

About the author

Soren Kierkegaard

Soren Kierkegaard

Philosopher, Theologian

Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher known for his exploration of existentialism and the nature of faith, particularly in works like 'Either/Or.'

All quotes by Soren Kierkegaard →

Same author

More quotes by Soren Kierkegaard

See all →
Soren Kierkegaard Philosopher, Theologian

"Christ was crucified because he would have nothing to do with the crowd (even though he addressed himself to all). He did not want to form a party, an interest group, a mass movement, but wanted to be what he was, the truth, which is related to the single individual. Therefore everyone who will genuinely serve the truth is by that very fact a martyr. To win a crowd is no art; for that only untruth is needed, nonsense, and a little knowledge of human passions. But no witness to the truth dares to get involved with the crowd."

Read quote
Soren Kierkegaard Philosopher, Theologian

"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday, I walk myself into a state of well-being & walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. But by sitting still, & the more one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill. Thus if one just keeps on walking, everything will be all right."

Read quote
Soren Kierkegaard Philosopher, Theologian

"The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly."

Read quote