A selection of quotes from writer and philosopher Kierkegaard. He has a good feeling for the travails of the mid life.
I think the first one here captures it perfectly: life is something that can only be understood backwards… so often demanding in mid-life that we do look back…
But can only be lived forwards, compelling us at the self-same moment of reflection, introspection and often utter stuckness to keep moving forwards, to keep risking that we will make a mistake, go the wrong way, and only make sense of it later.
Understood Backwards
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
Where Is the Director?
Where am I? Who am I? How did I come to be here? What is this thing called the world? How did I come into the world? Why was I not consulted? And If I am compelled to take part in it, Where is the director? I want to see him.
Discover by Living
Life has its own hidden forces which you can only discover by living.
Not a Problem to Be Solved
Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.
The Greatest Danger
The greatest danger, that of losing one’s own self, may pass off quietly as if it were nothing; every other loss, that of an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc., is sure to be noticed.
Don’t Forget
Don’t forget to love yourself.
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