Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many in every generation may not come that far, but none comes further.
Soren KierkegaardRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that loving one's enemies is challenging, yet it can be approached by recognizing their humanity, which is similar to that of a friend or neighbor.
Soren Kierkegaard's quote reveals a profound insight into the nature of love and enmity. It points out the difficulty humans have in extending love to those they consider enemies, suggesting that our perception of enemies often stems from our inability to see them as fellow human beings. By closing our eyes to our biases and preconceived notions, we can see that our enemies share a fundamental humanity with our neighbors, thus making it possible to foster an attitude of love and understanding towards them.
Themes
LoveEnemiesHumanityUnderstandingForgiveness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on reconciliation, a leader might quote Kierkegaard to encourage unity among opposing groups.
More from Soren Kierkegaard
All quotes →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 manager—I have something to say about this. Is there no manager? To whom shall I make my complaint?
Soren KierkegaardRead
A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it.
Soren KierkegaardRead
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.
Soren KierkegaardRead
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.
Soren KierkegaardRead
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.
Soren KierkegaardRead
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