Despair Quote by Søren Kierkegaard
““...The discrepancy is that the ethical self should be found immanently in the despair, that the individual won himself by persisting in the despair. True, he has used something within the category of freedom, choosing himself, which seem to remove the difficulty, one that presumably has not struck many, since philosophically doubting everything and then finding the true beginning goes one, two, three. But that does not help. In despairing, I use myself to despair, and therefore I can indeed despair of everything by myself. But if I do this, I cannot come back by myself. It is in this moment of decision that the individual needs divine assistance, whereas it is quite correct that in order to be at this point one must first have understood the existence-relation between the aesthetic and the ethical; that is to say, by being there in passion and inwardness, one surely becomes aware of the religious - and of the leap.””
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Essay: Either/Or, 1843
Despair isolates the self; only through divine aid and the synthesis of aesthetic and ethical can one move beyond self‑destruction.
In simple terms: Despair needs divine help.
Key Takeaway
Seek divine guidance.
Themes
despair
ethics
faith
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- counseling
- spiritual mentorship
- philosophical study
- artistic creation
Key Concepts
existential crisis
self‑realization
Questions to Reflect On
- Can ethical action arise without faith?
- What role does art play in overcoming despair?
A Different Perspective
Divine help may not be accessible to all.
