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Nobody can put a character on paper without – at any rate in part and at times – sitting as a model for it himself.

Henrik Ibsen

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 man-at-arms is the only man.
HENRIK IBSEN

Distance Man
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
Everything I touch seems destined to turn into something mean and farcical.
HENRIK IBSEN

Cruel Myself Touch
Really to sin you have to be serious about it.
HENRIK IBSEN

Serious Sin Yourself
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
People who don’t know how to keep themselves healthy ought to have the decency to get themselves buried, and not waste time about it.
HENRIK IBSEN

Decent Health People Wasted Time
If you doubt yourself, then indeed you stand on shaky ground.
HENRIK IBSEN

Doubt Ground Stand Yourself
Helmer: I would gladly work night and day for you. Nora- bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrafice his honor for the one he loves. Nora: It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done.
HENRIK IBSEN

Day Man Night Sorrow Woman
I have other duties equally sacred, Duties to myself.
HENRIK IBSEN

Equality Myself Sacred
Whenever I take up a newspaper, I seem to see Ghosts gliding between the lines. There must be Ghosts all the country over, as thick as the sand of the sea. We are, one and all, so pitifully afraid of the light.
HENRIK IBSEN

Country Ghost Light Myself Newspaper
Look into any man’s heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to keep concealed.
HENRIK IBSEN

Finding Heart Himself Man Please
The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.
HENRIK IBSEN

Alone Man Strong
Happiness is above all things the calm, glad certainty of innocence.
HENRIK IBSEN

Calm Certain Happiness Innocent
The man whom God wills to slay in the struggle of life – he first individualizes.
HENRIK IBSEN

God Individual Life Man Struggle
It is not by spectacular achievements that man can be transformed, but by will.
HENRIK IBSEN

Achievement Man Transformation Willing
To live is – to war with trolls In the holds of the heart and mind
HENRIK IBSEN

Heart Hold Live Mindset Troll
Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing.
HENRIK IBSEN

Extreme Mute Opinion Public
It’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

Finance Follow Rest Sports
Helmer: “Before all else you are a wife and a mother.” Nora: “That I no longer believe. I believe that before all else I am a human being.”
HENRIK IBSEN

Human Myself Responsibility Role
I’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 IBSEN

Acceptance Answer Finding Myself Preparation Try
The greatest victory is defeat.
HENRIK IBSEN

Defeat Greatness One Liner Victory
I’m inclined to think we are all ghosts-every one of us. It’s not just what we inherit from our mothers and fathers that haunts us. Its all kinds of old defunct theories, all sorts of old defunct beliefs, and things like that.
HENRIK IBSEN

Belief Inheritance Mom Myself Thinking
Our whole being is nothing but a fight against the dark forces within ourselves.
HENRIK IBSEN

Darkness Existence Fight Force Ourselves
The starving poet business is no good nowadays.
HENRIK IBSEN

Business Goodness Poet Starve
Oh yes, right-right. What is the use of having right on your side if you have not got might?
HENRIK IBSEN

Right Side Yourself
It is no use lying to one’s self.
HENRIK IBSEN

Lying Oneself Self

Nobody can put a character on paper without – at any rate in part and at times – sitting as a model for it himself.

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Nobody can put a character on paper without – at any rate in part and at times – sitting as a model for it himself.

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