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So to conduct one’s life as to realize oneself-this seems to me the highest attainment possible to a human being. It is the task of one and all of us, but most of us bungle it.

Henrik Ibsen

If I cannot be myself in what I write, then the whole is nothing but lies and humbug.
HENRIK IBSEN

Lying Myself Writing
I have other duties equally sacred, Duties to myself.
HENRIK IBSEN

Equality Myself Sacred
It’s a liberation to know that an act of spontaneous courage is yet possible in this world. An act that has something of unconditional beauty.
HENRIK IBSEN

Act Beautiful Courage Known Liberty
Bigger things than the State will fall, all religion will fall.
HENRIK IBSEN

Fall Religion State
It is not by spectacular achievements that man can be transformed, but by will.
HENRIK IBSEN

Achievement Man Transformation Willing
Most critical fault-finding, when reduced to its essentials, simply amounts to reproach of the author because he is himself — thinks, feels, sees, and creates, as himself, instead of seeing and creating in the way the critic would have done.
HENRIK IBSEN

Criticism Essential Feeling Finding Himself Mistake Thinking
The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That’s one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help rebelling against. Who are the people that make up the biggest proportion of the population — the intelligent ones or the fools?
HENRIK IBSEN

Fools Freedom Intelligence Lying Majority People Population Right
In the decisive moment I won the victory over myself. I chose to live. And believe me, it takes courage to choose life under those circumstances.
HENRIK IBSEN

Circumstance Decision Moments Victory
The devil is compromise.
HENRIK IBSEN

Compromise Devil One Liner
A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.
HENRIK IBSEN

Community Myself Preparation
Oh, law and order! I often think it is that that is at the bottom of all the misery in the world.
HENRIK IBSEN

Chaos Law Misery Myself Order Philosophy Thinking World
Before I write down one word, I have to have the character in my mind through and through. I must penetrate into the last wrinkle of his soul.
HENRIK IBSEN

Character Mindset Myself Soul Wrinkle Writing
The greatest victory is defeat.
HENRIK IBSEN

Defeat Greatness One Liner Victory
Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing.
HENRIK IBSEN

Extreme Mute Opinion Public
The strongest men are the most alone.
HENRIK IBSEN

Alone Man Strong
Poetry is to hold judgment on your soul.
HENRIK IBSEN

Hold Judgement Poetry Soul Yourself
The younger generation will come knocking at my door.
HENRIK IBSEN

Door Generation Myself Young
Happiness is worth a daring deed; we are both free if we but will it, and then the game is won.
HENRIK IBSEN

Action Dare Game Happiness Winning
It’s a release to know that in spite of everything a premeditated act of courage is still possible.
HENRIK IBSEN

Act Courage Known Possible Release
Now I am steel-set: I follow the call to the clear radiance and glow of the heights.
HENRIK IBSEN

Call Follow Glow Myself Radiance
To live is to war with trolls in heart and woul. To write is to sit in judgement on oneself.
HENRIK IBSEN

Heart Judgement Live Oneself Sit Troll War Writing
A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.
HENRIK IBSEN

Action Impact Impression Oneself Value Word
There is always a risk in being alive, and if you are more alive, there is more risk.
HENRIK IBSEN

Adventure Alive Risk Yourself
Do you know what we are those of us who count as pillars of society? We are society’s tools, neither more nor less.
HENRIK IBSEN

Count Society Yourself
You see, there are some people that one loves, and others that perhaps one would rather be with.
HENRIK IBSEN

Love People Yourself
What ought a man be? Well, my short answer is ‘himself’.
HENRIK IBSEN

Be Yourself Myself Original Self Love
Friends are to be feared, not so much for what they make us do as what they keep us from doing.
HENRIK IBSEN

Fear Friendship Restriction

So to conduct one’s life as to realize oneself-this seems to me the highest attainment possible to a human being. It is the task of one and all of us, but most of us bungle it.

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So to conduct one’s life as to realize oneself-this seems to me the highest attainment possible to a human being. It is the task of one and all of us, but most of us bungle it.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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