Existence Quote by Kierkegaard
““I shall be as willing as the next man to fall down in worship before the System, if only I can manage to set eyes on it. Hitherto I have had no success; and though I have young legs, I am almost weary from running back and forth... Once or twice I have been on the verge of bending the knee. But at the last moment, when I already had my handkerchief spread on the ground, to avoid soiling my trousers, and I made a trusting appeal to one of the initiated who stood by: "Tell me now sincerely, is it entirely finished; for if so I will kneel down before it, even at the risk of ruining a pair of trousers (for on account of the heavy traffic to and from the system, the road has become quite muddy)," - I always receive the same answer: "No, it is not yet quite finished." And so there was another postponement - of the system, and of my homage. System and finality are pretty much one and the same, so much so that if the system is not finished, there is no system.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Either/Or, 1843
The speaker laments endless postponement of confronting a system that never feels complete, highlighting the paradox of seeking finality in an unfinished construct.
In simple terms: Seeking a final system is impossible; we keep delaying commitment.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and act without waiting for perfection.
Themes
existentialism
faith
commitment
paradox
systems
Mood
anxious
reflective
determined
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal decision-making
- career planning
- spiritual practice
- social movements
Key Concepts
absurdity
ethical responsibility
faith
existential dread
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you commit to if you knew the system would never be perfect?
- How does endless postponement affect your sense of purpose?
A Different Perspective
The system may be a metaphor for any goal that remains perpetually out of reach, making endless waiting counterproductive.
