KIERKEGAARD25

Imagination is what guidance uses to bring people forcibly into actuality, into existence, to get them far enough out, or in, or down into existence. And when imagination has helped them get as far out as they should be--that is when actuality genuinely begins. [1854]

In a way, I could wish as a punishment upon men that the press indeed achieved its aim and made all into specimens--dreadful punishment! One million men each of whom is just like the others... The punishment of would of course be the most excruciating boredom. ["Living By Comparison", 1854]

In a way I put the bow in her hand, I myself laid the arrow, showed her how she should aim; my thought was--and it was love--either I become yours or you will be allowed to wound me so deeply, wound me in my melancholy and my relation to God, so deeply that, although parted from you, I will yet remain yours. [1849]

In our time book-scribbling is so wretched and people write about things they have never really given thought to, let alone experienced. So I've decided to read only the writings of those who were executed or faced danger in some other way. [1844]

In our times persecution just doesn't exist--because Christendom has been made so lacking in character that really there is nothing to persecute. ["Persecution", 1854]

In relation to the absurd, objective approximation is nonsense; for in trying to grasp the absurd, objective knowledge has literally gone broke to its last shilling. [1845]

In resignation I make renunciation of everything; this movement I make by myself, and if I do not make it, it is because I am cowardly and effeminate and without enthusiasm and do not feel the significance of the lofty dignity which is assigned to every man, that of being his own censor, which is a far prouder title than that of Censor General to the whole Roman Republic. This movement I make by myself, and what I gain is myself in my eternal consciousness, in blissful agreement with my love for the Eternal Being. By faith I make renunciation of nothing; on the contrary, by faith I acquire everything, precisely in the sense in which it is said that he who has faith like a grain of mustard can remove mountains. A purely human courage is required to renounce the whole of the temporal to gain the eternal. [Fear and Trembling]

In terms of what it now means to be a human, it is nonsense, ridiculous (almost as ridiculous as if such a thing were to occur to a cow or a horse), to talk about immortality, eternity, being in kinship with God. ["Representation-Association", 1854]

In the beginning there was no Christian at all.
Then everyone became a Christian--and that's why once again there is no Christian.
That was the end. Now we are at the beginning again. ["The Beginning--The End--The Beginning", 1854]

In the constant sociability of our age people shudder at solitude to such a degree that they know no other use to put it to but (oh, admirable epigram!) as a punishment for criminals. [The Sickness unto Death]