--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may happen, however, that he falls…" description: "\"“It may happen, however, that he falls into despair just for the fact that he has opened his heart to another; it may be that he thinks it would have b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_despair_it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into_788402.jpg" --- # It may happen, however, that he falls into despair just… ![“It may happen, however, that he falls into despair just for the fact that he has opened his heart to another; it may be that he thinks it would have been infinitely preferable to maintain silence rather than have anyone privy to his secret. There are examples of introverts who are brought to…” quote by Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_despair_it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into_788402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_despair_it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into_788402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_despair_it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into_788402.jpg) > ““It may happen, however, that he falls into despair just for the fact that he has opened his heart to another; it may be that he thinks it would have been infinitely preferable to maintain silence rather than have anyone privy to his secret. There are examples of introverts who are brought to despair precisely because they have acquired a confidant.”” [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opening one's heart can bring deep connection but also risk of despair when vulnerability is exposed, especially for introverts. **In simple terms:** Sharing feelings can cause pain. Key Takeaway Guard emotional openness. Themes vulnerability introversion despair Mood contemplative melancholic Type psychological literary When to use this quote - friendship - confidant seeking - emotional support Key Concepts psychology human relationships Questions to Reflect On - Is silence always safer? - When does sharing become harmful? A Different Perspective Silence may protect but also isolates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Examples Introverts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examples-introverts-6061145/) [Falls Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falls-despair-3835667/) [Heart Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-thinks-919658/) [Introversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introversion/) [Introverts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introverts/) [Introverts Brought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introverts-brought-6061146/) ## Related quotes > [He who loses sight of the word of God, falls into despair; the voice of heaven no longer sustains him; he follows only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-loses-sight-of-the-word-of-god-falls-into-despair-the-voice-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“introverts prefer to work independently, and solitude can be a catalyst to innovation. As the influential psychologist Hans Eysenck once observed, introversion “concentrates the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/introverts-prefer-to-work-independently-and-solitude-can-be-a/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“For introverts, the best associations start with ideas. If you don’t feel a part of your neighborhood association or the happy hour regulars after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/for-introverts-the-best-associations-start-with-ideas-if-you-don-t/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [“For introverts, who have limited energy for interaction, we need to be more thoughtful and deliberate about whom we meet—which, happily, is what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/for-introverts-who-have-limited-energy-for-interaction-we-need-to-be/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [After an hour or two of being socially on, we introverts need to turn off and recharge ... This isn't antisocial. It isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rauch/after-an-hour-or-two-of-being-socially-on-we-introverts-need-to-turn/) [Jonathan Rauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rauch/) > [Introverts .. may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/introverts-may-have-strong-social-skills-and-enjoy-parties-and/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Beware of those who don't fight back. Sooner or later, they will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/beware-of-those-who-don-t-fight-back-sooner-or-later-they-will/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [Originally, technology was pretty clearly on the side of introversion. It allowed introverts to connect with people, to express their ideas in a less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/originally-technology-was-pretty-clearly-on-the-side-of-introversion/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Let's clear one thing up: Introverts do not hate small talk because we dislike people. We hate small talk because we hate the barrier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/let-s-clear-one-thing-up-introverts-do-not-hate-small-talk-because-we/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Introverts prefer introversion; we tend to gain energy by reflecting and expend energy when interacting. Extroverts have the opposite preference; they tend to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/introverts-prefer-introversion-we-tend-to-gain-energy-by-reflecting/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [“Though some of us like to get on stage, many introverts are content to put on their invisibility cloaks and watch. But well-meaning extroverts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/though-some-of-us-like-to-get-on-stage-many-introverts-are-content-to/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I am very troubled by the tendency to define introverts by what they lack. Introversion is a preference, not a fallback plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/i-am-very-troubled-by-the-tendency-to-define-introverts-by-what-they/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [“I’m one of those introverts with well-honed social skills, and I have even danced on the occasional table, but I have felt sheer panic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/i-m-one-of-those-introverts-with-well-honed-social-skills-and-i-have/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [“Because extroversion lines up so well with American values, we introverts often deprive ourselves of what we most enjoy and thrive on. So, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/because-extroversion-lines-up-so-well-with-american-values-we/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [“Many introverts don't feel as if they know enough about a subject until they know almost everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-olsen-laney/many-introverts-don-t-feel-as-if-they-know-enough-about-a-subject/) [Marti Olsen Laney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-olsen-laney/) ## More by Søren Kierkegaard > [“At vove er at miste fodfæstet et kort øjeblik - ikke at vove er at miste sig selv.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/at-vove-er-at-miste-fodf-stet-et-kort-jeblik-ikke-at-vove-er-at-miste/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“No woman in maternity confinement can have stranger and more impatient wishes than I have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/no-woman-in-maternity-confinement-can-have-stranger-and-more/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“If a man had a little button sewn on the inner pocket of his coat 'on principle' his otherwise unimportant and quite serviceable action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/if-a-man-had-a-little-button-sewn-on-the-inner-pocket-of-his-coat-on/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“I stick my finger in existence — it smells of nothing. Where am I? Who am I? How came I here? What is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/i-stick-my-finger-in-existence-it-smells-of-nothing-where-am-i-who-am/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“A human being is spirit. But what is spirit? Spirit is the self. But what is the self? The self is a relation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/a-human-being-is-spirit-but-what-is-spirit-spirit-is-the-self-but/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“I am poor—you are my riches; dark—you are my light; I own nothing, need nothing. And how could I own anything? After all, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/i-am-poor-you-are-my-riches-dark-you-are-my-light-i-own-nothing-need/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“Intohimo ei merkitse sanoja.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/intohimo-ei-merkitse-sanoja/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“But there is a concerned guide, a knowing one, who attracts the attention of the wanderer, who calls out to him that he should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/but-there-is-a-concerned-guide-a-knowing-one-who-attracts-the/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“There is something frightful in the fact that the most dangerous thing of all, playing at Christianity, is never included in the list of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/there-is-something-frightful-in-the-fact-that-the-most-dangerous/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“Yet in another and still more definite sense despair is the sickness unto death. It is indeed very far from being true that, literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/yet-in-another-and-still-more-definite-sense-despair-is-the-sickness/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“Sitting calmly on a ship in fair weather is not a metaphor for having faith; but when the ship has sprung a leak, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/sitting-calmly-on-a-ship-in-fair-weather-is-not-a-metaphor-for-having/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“Not merely in the realm of commerce but in the world of ideas as well our age is organizing a regular clearance sale. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/not-merely-in-the-realm-of-commerce-but-in-the-world-of-ideas-as-well/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“In love with myself, that is what people say I am. It doesn’t surprise me, for how could they notice that I can love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/in-love-with-myself-that-is-what-people-say-i-am-it-doesn-t-surprise/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“Battle day and night against the guile of oblivion...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/battle-day-and-night-against-the-guile-of-oblivion/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) [Explore all 184 Søren Kierkegaard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It may happen, however, that he falls into despair just for the fact that he has opened his heart to another; it may be that he thinks it would have been infinitely preferable to maintain silence rather than have anyone privy to his secret. There are examples of introverts who are brought to despair precisely because they have acquired a confidant.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Søren Kierkegaard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into-despair-just-for-the-fact/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into-despair-just-for-the-fact/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_despair_it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into_788402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_despair_it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into_788402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_despair_it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into_788402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It may happen, however, that he falls into despair just for the fact that he has opened his heart to…” — Søren Kierkegaard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Søren Kierkegaard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It may happen, however, that he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into-despair-just-for-the-fact/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/it-may-happen-however-that-he-falls-into-despair-just-for-the-fact/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```