Men think that it is impossible for a human being to love his enemies, for enemies are hardly able to endure the sight of one another. Well, then, shut your eyes--and your enemy looks just like your neighbor.
Soren KierkegaardRead
Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many in every generation may not come that far, but none comes further.
Interpretation
Faith represents the deepest commitment and passion one can possess. While many may struggle with it, the pursuit of true faith is a monumental journey.
This quote by Soren Kierkegaard emphasizes the supreme importance of faith as a fundamental drive in human existence. It suggests that while not everyone may reach the pinnacle of faith, striving for it is a significant part of the human experience, and those who do reach this level of passion find themselves at the highest point of personal development and meaning.
In practice
During a motivational speech to encourage self-belief in students.
Men think that it is impossible for a human being to love his enemies, for enemies are hardly able to endure the sight of one another. Well, then, shut your eyes--and your enemy looks just like your neighbor.
How did I get into the world? Why was I not asked about it and why was I not informed of the rules and regulations but just thrust into the ranks as if I had been bought by a peddling shanghaier of human beings? How did I get involved in this big enterprise called actuality? Why should I be involved? Isn't it a matter of choice? And if I am compelled to be involved, where is the managerβI have something to say about this. Is there no manager? To whom shall I make my complaint?
A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it.
And when the hourglass has run out, the hourglass of temporality, when the noise of secular life has grown silent and its restless or ineffectual activism has come to an end, when everything around you is still, as it is in eternity, then eternity asks you and every individual in these millions and millions about only one thing: whether you have lived in despair or not.
I am so stupid that I cannot understand philosophy; the antithesis of this is that philosophy is so clever that it cannot comprehend my stupidity. These antitheses are mediated in a higher unity; in our common stupidity.
If I were a physician, and if I were allowed to prescribe just one remedy for all the ills of the modern world, I would prescribe silence. For even if the Word of God were proclaimed in the modern world, how could one hear it with so much noise? Therefore, create silence.
Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.
Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can a person lay a new foundation every day? The old man replied, If you work hard, you can lay a new foundation every moment. Abba Pimen said, To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul. The desire to rule is the mother of heresies.
God's goodness is the root of all goodness; and our goodness, if we have any, springs out of His goodness.
Compassion has enemies, and those enemies are things like pity, moral outrage, fear.
It is not possible either to trick or escape the mind of Zeus.
I draw from the Absurd three consequences: my revolt, my liberty, my passion.
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