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Not even a suicide these days does away with himself in…

“Not even a suicide these days does away with himself in desperation but deliberates on this step so long and so sensibly that he is strangled by calculation, making it a moot point whether or not he can really be called a suicide, inasmuch as it was in fact the deliberating that took his life. A…” quote by Kierkegaard, Soren
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““Not even a suicide these days does away with himself in desperation but deliberates on this step so long and so sensibly that he is strangled by calculation, making it a moot point whether or not he can really be called a suicide, inasmuch as it was in fact the deliberating that took his life. A premeditated suicide he was not, but rather a suicide by means of premeditation.””

Kierkegaard, Soren

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Suicide is often a calculated act, not a spontaneous impulse, blurring moral classification.

In simple terms: Suicide can be a deliberate, rational decision.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the complexity of desperation.

Themes

suicide desperation morality psychology

Mood

somber analytical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • mental health crisis
  • ethical debates
  • legal discussions
  • philosophical counseling

Key Concepts

existentialism ethical theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is deliberation a sign of rationality or deeper despair?
  • How should society respond to calculated self-harm?
A Different Perspective

The quote may romanticize self-harm, risking harmful interpretation.

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