Henrik Ibsen Quotes & Sayings

To live is to war with trolls in heart and woul. To write is to sit in judgement on oneself. — Henrik Ibsen

I propose to raise a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly of the truth. — Henrik Ibsen

A minority may be right, and a majority is always wrong. — Henrik Ibsen

I am half inclined to think we are all ghosts ... it is not only what we have inherited from our fathers and mothers that exists again in us, but all sorts of old dead ideas and all kinds of old dead beliefs and things of that kind. They are not actually alive in us; but there they are dormant all the same, and we can never be rid of them. Whenever I take up a newspaper and read it, I fancy I see ghosts creeping between the lines. There must be ghosts all over the world. They must be as countless as the grains of the sands, it seems to me. And we are so miserably afraid of the light, all of us. — Henrik Ibsen

It is the very mark of the spirit of rebellion to crave for happiness in this life — Henrik Ibsen

I have had a delightfully lonely time of it - plenty of leisure to think and think about things. — Henrik Ibsen

FALK. I feel myself like God's lost prodigal; I left Him for the world's delusive charms. With mild reproof He wooed me to His arms; And when I come, He lights the vaulted hall, Prepares a banquet for the son restored, And makes His noblest creature my reward. From this time forth I'll never leave that Light, - But stand its armed defender in the fight; Nothing shall part us, and our life shall prove A song of glory to triumphant love! — Henrik Ibsen

The idol of Authority must be shattered in this town. — Henrik Ibsen

What sort of truths are they that the majority usually
supports? They are truths that are of such advanced age that they are
beginning to break up. And if a truth is as old as that, it is also in
a fair way to become a lie, gentlemen. — Henrik Ibsen

Marriage is something you have to give your whole mind to. — Henrik Ibsen

HELMER; But this is disgraceful. Is this the way you neglect your most sacred duties?
NORA: What do you consider is my most sacred duty?
HELMER: Do I have to tell you that? Isn't it your duty to your husband and children?
NORA:I have another duty, just as sacred.
HELMER: You can't have. What duty do you mean?
NORA: My duty to myself. — Henrik Ibsen

The forests avenge themselves. — Henrik Ibsen

Our whole being is nothing but a fight against the dark forces within ourselves. — Henrik Ibsen

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

I'm afraid for all those who'll have the bread snatched from their mouths by these machines. What business has science and capitalism got, bringing all these new inventions into the works, before society has produced a generation educated up to using them! — Henrik Ibsen

He is suffering from an acute attack of integrity. — Henrik Ibsen

When I was at home with papa, he told me his opinion about everything, and so I had the same opinions; and if I differed from him I concealed the fact, because he would not have liked it. He called me his doll-child, and he played with me just as I used to play with my dolls. — Henrik Ibsen

OSWALD: [Repeats, in a dull, toneless voice.] The sun. The sun. — Henrik Ibsen

NORA: I must stand on my own two feet if I'm to get to know myself and the world outside. That's why I can't stay here with you any longer. — Henrik Ibsen

The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That's one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help rebelling against. Who are the people that make up the biggest proportion of the population
the intelligent ones or the fools? — Henrik Ibsen

Money 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 Ibsen

Before I write down one word, I have to have the character in my mind through and through. I must penetrate into the last wrinkle of his soul. — Henrik Ibsen

Most people are ennobled by the actual presence of death. But how long do you suppose this nobility will last in him? — Henrik Ibsen

To die in agony upon a cross Does not create a martyr; he must first Will his own execution. — Henrik Ibsen

You should never wear your best trousers when you go out to fight for freedom and truth. — Henrik Ibsen

Everything I touch seems destined to turn into something mean and farcical. — Henrik Ibsen

Happiness is worth a daring deed; we are both free if we but will it, and then the game is won. — Henrik Ibsen

But he got right to the top. And I heard harps in the air. My - my master builder! — Henrik Ibsen

That is the only relation in life that is not subject to the law of change. — Henrik Ibsen

The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right. — Henrik Ibsen

It is no use lying to one's self. — Henrik Ibsen

To "those about to marry," Ibsen therefore says in effect, "Be sure you are not in love!" And to those who are in love he says, "Part! — Henrik Ibsen

Everything that I have written is closely related to something that I have lived through. — Henrik Ibsen

A friend married is a friend lost. — Henrik Ibsen

The 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 Ibsen

There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At home one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the children. — Henrik Ibsen

I have existed merely to perform tricks for you, Torvald. — Henrik Ibsen

The State is the curse of the individual ... The State must go! That will be a revolution which will find me on its side. Undermine the idea of the State, set up in its place spontaneous action, and the idea that spiritual relationship is the only thing that makes for unity, and you will start the elements of a liberty which will be something worth possessing. — Henrik Ibsen

It is inexcusable for scientists to torture animals; let them make their experiments on journalists and politicians. — Henrik Ibsen

I go to scale the Future's possibilities! Farewell! — Henrik Ibsen

HELMER: - To forsake your home, your husband, and your children! You don't consider what the world will say.
NORA: - I can pay no heed to that. I only know what I must do.
HELMER: - It is exasperating! Can you forsake your holiest duties in this world?
NORA: - What do you call my holiest duties?
HELMER: - Do you ask me that? Your duties to your husband and your children.
NORA: - I have other duties equally sacred.
HELMER: - Impossible! What duties do you mean?
NORA: - My duties towards myself.
HELMER: - Before all else you are a wife and a mother.
NORA: - That I no longer believe. I think that before all else I am a human being, just as much as you are - or at least I will try to become one. — Henrik Ibsen

What is the difference in being alone with another and being alone by one's self? — Henrik Ibsen

I have other duties equally sacred ... Duties to myself. — Henrik Ibsen

ALLMERS. No. For it is here, in the life of earth, that we living beings are at home. — Henrik Ibsen

I'm plotting revolution against this lie that the majority has a monopoly of the truth. What are these truths that always bring the majority rallying round? Truths so elderly they are practically senile. And when a truth is as old as that, gentlemen, you can hardly tell it from a lie. — Henrik Ibsen

Do you know what we are those of us who count as pillars of society? We are society's tools, neither more nor less. — Henrik Ibsen

A man who has the inventive genius can't control it exactly as he wishes. Its working depends in great measure on inspiration
on a momentary suggestion
and it is almost impossible to tell beforehand at what moment it will come. — Henrik Ibsen

SIGURD. Man's will can do this and that; but fate rules in the deeds that shape our lives - so has it gone with us twain. — Henrik Ibsen

How can I hold you close enough? — Henrik Ibsen

The pillars of truth and the pillars of freedom - they are the pillars of society. — Henrik Ibsen

To think it, wish it, even want it
but do it! No, that I cannot understand. — Henrik Ibsen

Think. I dragged myself along among the precipices - and revelled in the peace and luxury of death. — Henrik Ibsen

The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone. — Henrik Ibsen

Almost everyone who has gone to the bad early in life has had a deceitful mother. — Henrik Ibsen

Mrs LINDE: When you've sold yourself once for the sake of others, you don't do it second time. — Henrik Ibsen

The great task of our time is to blow up all existing institutions to destroy. — Henrik Ibsen

I could not endure life without work. All my life, as
long as I can remember, I have worked, and it has been my greatest
and only pleasure. But now I am quite alone in the world
my life
is so dreadfully empty and I feel so forsaken. There is not the
least pleasure in working for one's self. Nils, give me someone and
something to work for. — Henrik Ibsen

I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are
or, at all events, that I must try and become one. — Henrik Ibsen

A thousand words can't make the mark a single deed will leave. — Henrik Ibsen

Friends are to be feared, not so much for what they make us do as what they keep us from doing. — Henrik Ibsen

The devil is compromise. — Henrik Ibsen

Werle: "I believe there is no one in the world you detest as you do me."
Gregers: "I have seen you at too close quarters. — Henrik Ibsen

Do not use that foreign word 'ideals.' We have that excellent native word 'lies.' — Henrik Ibsen

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

Rob the average man of his life-illusion, and you rob him of his happiness at the same stroke. — Henrik Ibsen

About the white and shining milky way? Man may not there the milk of fortune skim, Nor is the butter of it meant for him. — Henrik Ibsen

You have never loved me. You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me. — Henrik Ibsen

No, I don't think one ought to be at everybody's beck and call. Anyway, I'm not going to be. — Henrik Ibsen

In the decisive moment I won the victory over myself. I chose to live. And believe me, it takes courage to choose life under those circumstances. — Henrik Ibsen

The right? Ah, what does it help to be in the right if you don't have any power? — Henrik Ibsen

In great memories there lies the seed of growth. — Henrik Ibsen

But a scientific man must live in a little bit of style. — Henrik Ibsen

People so easily forget their past selves. — Henrik Ibsen

And what if I did run my ship aground; oh, still it was splendid to sail it! — Henrik Ibsen

The greatest victory is defeat. — Henrik Ibsen

STRAWMAN. Are you less Intractable than when we parted? FALK. Nay, I go my own inexorable way - STRAWMAN. Even tho' you crush another's happiness? FALK. I plant the flower of knowledge in its place. [Smiling. — Henrik Ibsen

I hold that man is in the right who is most closely in league with the future. — Henrik Ibsen

MAIA. - all the glory of the world? Yes, you did. And all that glory should be mine, you said. — Henrik Ibsen

Nothing is impossible that one desires with an indomitable will. — Henrik Ibsen

You see, there are some people that one loves, and others that perhaps one would rather be with. — Henrik Ibsen

The spectacles of experience; through them you will see clearly a second time. — Henrik Ibsen

Gina. I wish to goodness that detestable thing had never set his foot inside our doors! — Henrik Ibsen

A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed. — Henrik Ibsen

World-comedy of Love's contriving - naive fools of fancy, passionately weaving the cords that are to strangle passion. — Henrik Ibsen

PROFESSOR RUBEK. Well, they are trifles, perhaps; but at any rate the time passes for us in that way as well as another, Maia. — Henrik Ibsen

There is always a risk in being alive, and if you are more alive, there is more risk. — Henrik Ibsen

Men are funny characters, they must always have something to bemuse them. — Henrik Ibsen

Oh yes, right - right. What is the use of having right on your side if you have not got might? — Henrik Ibsen

A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed. — Henrik Ibsen

Oh, one soon makes friends with invalids; and I need so much to have someone to live for. — Henrik Ibsen

It's a release to know that in spite of everything a premeditated act of courage is still possible. — Henrik Ibsen

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

Now I am steel-set: I follow the call to the clear radiance and glow of the heights. — Henrik Ibsen

Each bird must sing with his own throat. — Henrik Ibsen

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

As soon as your fear was over
and it was not fear for what threatened me, but for what might happen to you
when the whole thing was past, as far as you were concerned it was exactly as if nothing at all had happened. Exactly as before, I was your little skylark, your doll, which you would in future treat with doubly gentle care, because it was so brittle and fragile. — Henrik Ibsen

Frida. So after all, it is not for nothing that I was born a poet. For now she is going forth into the great wide world, that I once yearned so passionately to see. Little Frida sets out in a splendid covered sledge with silver bells on the harness - — Henrik Ibsen

That is the accursed thing about small surroundings
they make the soul small. — Henrik Ibsen

Bigger things than the State will fall, all religion will fall. — Henrik Ibsen

The truth is that there are two men in Ibsen - an idealist, exalted to the verge of sentimentality, and a critic, hard, inexorable, remorseless, to the verge of cynicism. What we call his "social philosophy" is a modus vivendi arrived at between them. Both agree in repudiating "marriage for love"; — Henrik Ibsen