"Thus when the ambitious man, whose slogan was "Either Caes… - Søren Kierkegaard

"Thus when the ambitious man, whose slogan was "Either Caesar or nothing", does not become Caesar, he is in despair over it. But this signifies something else, namely, that precisely because he did not become Caesar he now cannot bear to be himself. Consequently he is not in despair over the fact that he did not become Caesar, but he is in despair over himself for the fact that he did not become Caesar."

Søren Kierkegaard

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About Søren Kierkegaard

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard (5 May 1813 – 11 November 1855) was a Danish Christian philosopher and theologian, considered to be a founder of Existentialist thought and Absurdist traditions. He wrote critical texts on organized religion, Christendom, morality, ethics, psychology and philosophy of religion, displaying a fondness for metaphor, irony and parables.

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Also Known As

Pen Names: Victor Eremita • A • Judge William • Johannes de silentio • Constantine Constantius • Young Man • Vigilius Haufniensis • Nicolaus Notabene • Hilarius Bookbinder • Johannes Climacus • Inter et Inter • H.H. • Anti-Climacus • B • Johannes de Silentio • Constantin Constantius • P. CH. Kierkegaard

Native Name: Søren Aabye Kierkegaard

Alternative Names: Kierkegaard • Climacus • Sören Aaby Kierkegaard

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Originators like Søren Kierkegaard:

Friedrich Nietzsche C. S. Lewis G. K. Chesterton Leo Tolstoy Hermann Hesse

Additional quotes by Søren Kierkegaard

The ethical expression for what Abraham did is that he meant to murder Isaac; the religious expression is that he meant to sacrifice Isaac — but precisely in this contradiction is the anxiety that can make a person sleepless, and yet without this anxiety Abraham is not who he is.

With every increase in the degree of consciousness, and in proportion to that increase, the intensity of despair increases: the more consciousness the more intense the despair

Where am I? Who am I?
How did I come to be here?
What is this thing called the world?
How did I come into the world?
Why was I not consulted?
And If I am compelled to take part in it, where is the director?
I want to see him.

"Thus when the ambitious man, whose slogan was "Either Caesar or nothing", does not become Caesar, he is in despair over it. But this signifies somet… - Søren Kierkegaard

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