I stick my finger in existence — it smells of nothing. Where am I? Who am I? How came I here? What is this thing called the world? What does this wor… - Søren Kierkegaard

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I stick my finger in existence — it smells of nothing. Where am I? Who am I? How came I here? What is this thing called the world? What does this world mean? Who is it that has lured me into the world? Why was I not consulted, why not made acquainted with its manners and customs instead of throwing me into the ranks, as if I had been bought by a kidnapper, a dealer in souls? How did I obtain an interest in this big enterprise they call reality? Why should I have an interest in it? Is it not a voluntary concern? And if I am to be compelled to take part in it, where is the director? I should like to make a remark to him. Is there no director? Whither shall I turn with my complaint?

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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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Additional quotes by Søren Kierkegaard

Whatever the one generation may learn from the other, that which is genuinely human no generation learns from the foregoing...Thus no generation has learned from another to love, no generation begins at any other point than at the beginning, no generation has a shorter task assigned to it than had the previous generation.

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