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by Søren Kierkegaard (Author), Gordon Marino (Editor)
The most comprehensive and authoritative collection of Kierkegaard quotations ever published
"Why I so much prefer autumn to spring is that in the autumn one looks at heaven--in the spring at the earth."--S ren Kierkegaard The father of existentialism, S ren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) was a philosopher who could write like an angel. With only a sentence or two, he could plumb the depths of the human spirit. In this collection of some 800 quotations, the reader will find dazzling bon mots next to words of life-changing power. Drawing from the authoritative Princeton editions of Kierkegaard's writings, this book presents a broad selection of his wit and wisdom, as well as a stimulating introduction to his life and work. Organized by topic, this volume covers notable Kierkegaardian concerns such as anxiety, despair, existence, irony, and the absurd, but also erotic love, the press, busyness, and the comic. Here readers will encounter both well-known quotations ("Life must be understood backward. But then one forgets the other principle, that it must be lived forward") and obscure ones ("Beware false prophets who come to you in wolves' clothing but inwardly are sheep--i.e., the phrasemongers"). Those who spend time in these pages will discover the writer who said, "my grief is my castle," but who also taught that "the best defense against hypocrisy is love." Illuminating and delightful, this engaging book also provides a substantial portrait of one of the most influential of modern thinkers.- Gathers some 800 quotations
- Drawn from the authoritative Princeton editions of Kierkegaard's writings
- Includes an introduction, a brief account and timeline of Kierkegaard's life, a guide to further reading, and an index
Back Jacket
"The Quotable Kierkegaard serves equally well as an introduction or a reference book. There is no better way to sample the unique flavor of Kierkegaard's thought. And if you ever need a quotation for a speech or a sermon, for an epigraph or an epitaph, for a dedication or a denunciation, you're sure to find a striking one here."--David Lodge, author of Small World, Therapy, and other novels
"[A] collection of awesome quotes from that great Danish philosopher."--Mike Tyson
"This book is the best of two worlds: a rich collection of quotations from Kierkegaard that also provides a quick introduction to the central core of his thinking."--Alastair Hannay, author of Kierkegaard: A Biography
"This admirable selection of quotations from the eminently quotable Kierkegaard is a fine introduction to the breadth and variety of his thought."--Bruce H. Kirmmse, general editor of Kierkegaard's Journals and Notebooks
Author Biography
Gordon Marino is professor of philosophy and director of the Hong Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He is the author of Kierkegaard in the Present Age, the coeditor of The Cambridge Companion to Kierkegaard, and the editor of Basic Writings of Existentialism.
