Take the life-lie away from the average man and straight away you take away his happiness.
HENRIK IBSENTake the life-lie away from the average man and straight away you take away his happiness.
HENRIK IBSENHappiness is worth a daring deed; we are both free if we but will it, and then the game is won.
HENRIK IBSENThere are two kinds of spiritual law, two kinds of conscience, one in man and another, altogether different, in woman. They do not understand each other; but in practical life the woman is judged by man’s law, as though she were not a woman but a man.
HENRIK IBSENThere can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt.
HENRIK IBSENThe sea possesses a power over one’s moods that has the effect of a will. The sea can hypnotize. Nature in general can do so.
HENRIK IBSENTo crave for happiness in this world is simply to be possessed by a spirit of revolt. What right have we to happiness?
HENRIK IBSENI’m no longer prepared to accept what people say and what’s written in books. I must think things out for myself, and try to find my own answer.
HENRIK IBSENOh, law and order! I often think it is that that is at the bottom of all the misery in the world.
HENRIK IBSENWhat ought a man be? Well, my short answer is ‘himself’.
HENRIK IBSENBut a scientific man must live in a little bit of style.
HENRIK IBSENMoney may be the husk of many things but not the kernel. It brings you food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintance, but not friends; servants, but not loyalty; days of joy, but not peace or happiness.
HENRIK IBSENThat is the accursed thing about small surroundings — they make the soul small.
HENRIK IBSENI have other duties equally sacred, Duties to myself.
HENRIK IBSENTo live is to war with trolls.
HENRIK IBSENDon’t use that foreign word: ideals. We have the excellent native word: lies.
HENRIK IBSENIt’s such sport with these heroes of finance: they are like beads on a string – when one slips off, all the rest follow.
HENRIK IBSEN