--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Philosophy is perfectly right in saying…" description: "\"Philosophy is perfectly right in saying that life must be understood backward. But then one forgets the other clause - that it must be lived forward. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/soren-kierkegaard-578_backward_philosophy-is-perfectly-right-in-saying_2863504.jpg" --- # Philosophy is perfectly right in saying that life must be… ![“Philosophy is perfectly right in saying that life must be understood backward. But then one forgets the other clause - that it must be lived forward. The more one thinks through this clause, the more one concludes that life in temporality never becomes properly understandable, simply because never…” quote by Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/soren-kierkegaard-578_backward_philosophy-is-perfectly-right-in-saying_2863504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/soren-kierkegaard-578_backward_philosophy-is-perfectly-right-in-saying_2863504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/soren-kierkegaard-578_backward_philosophy-is-perfectly-right-in-saying_2863504.jpg) > “Philosophy is perfectly right in saying that life must be understood backward. But then one forgets the other clause - that it must be lived forward. The more one thinks through this clause, the more one concludes that life in temporality never becomes properly understandable, simply because never at any time does one get perfect repose to take the stance - backward.” [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding life by looking back reveals meaning, yet living requires forward action, creating a tension between reflection and experience. **In simple terms:** We understand life backward but must live it forward. Key Takeaway Balance reflection with forward living. Themes philosophy existence time reflection action Mood contemplative motivated Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - decision making - life planning - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism temporal paradox self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor past insights while moving forward? - What practices keep you present? A Different Perspective Pure reflection can paralyze action if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Temporality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [LIFE can only be understood backward but, it must be lived FORWARD!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-can-only-be-understood-backward-but-it-must-be-lived-forward-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life can only be understood backward; the trouble is, it has to be lived forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zia-haider-rahman/life-can-only-be-understood-backward-the-trouble-is-it-has-to-be/) [Zia Haider Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zia-haider-rahman/) > [“Life can only be understood backward; but it must be lived forward. —Kierkegaard”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/life-can-only-be-understood-backward-but-it-must-be-lived-forward/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said that life can only be understood backward but it must be lived forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/philosopher-s-ren-kierkegaard-said-that-life-can-only-be-understood/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/life-must-be-understood-backwards-but-it-must-be-lived-forward/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Destroy your primitivity, and you will most probably get along well in the world, maybe achieve great success--but Eternity will reject you. Follow up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/destroy-your-primitivity-and-you-will-most-probably-get-along-well-in/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“It is perfectly true, as philosophers say, that life must be understood backwards. But they forget the other proposition, that it must be lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/it-is-perfectly-true-as-philosophers-say-that-life-must-be-understood/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/life-can-only-be-understood-backwards-but-it-must-be-lived-forward/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Ultimately, I think, what the psychedelic experience may be is a higher topological manifold of temporality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/ultimately-i-think-what-the-psychedelic-experience-may-be-is-a-higher/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Everything that now exists, no matter how great and good it is, lasts for a time, fulfills a purpose, and then passes on. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adalbert-stifter/everything-that-now-exists-no-matter-how-great-and-good-it-is-lasts/) [Adalbert Stifter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adalbert-stifter/) > [“Thank you to Giulia Fani, Joan Spence and my sister for the rooms and desks they loaned me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moez-surani/thank-you-to-giulia-fani-joan-spence-and-my-sister-for-the-rooms-and/) Moez Surani > [“I have a print - you can buy them at the Victoria and Albert Museum - of a photograph of the village street of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-have-a-print-you-can-buy-them-at-the-victoria-and-albert-museum-of/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [The past is a trail you leave behind, much like the wake of a speedboat. That is, it's a vanishing trail temporarily showing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/the-past-is-a-trail-you-leave-behind-much-like-the-wake-of-a/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [That a marriage ends is less than ideal; but all things end under heaven, and if temporality is held to be invalidating, then nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/that-a-marriage-ends-is-less-than-ideal-but-all-things-end-under/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I think the approach to Islam as a tradition is helpful. Tradition helps us to focus on questions about authority and temporality, and about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/i-think-the-approach-to-islam-as-a-tradition-is-helpful-tradition/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) ## More by Soren Kierkegaard > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Christians remind me of schoolboys who want to look up the answers to their math problems in the back of the book rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christians-remind-me-of-schoolboys-who-want-to-look-up-the-answers-to/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [People commonly travel the world over to see rivers and mountains, new stars, garish birds, freak fish, grotesque breeds of human; they fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/people-commonly-travel-the-world-over-to-see-rivers-and-mountains-new/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“A strange thing happened to me in my dream. I was rapt into the Seventh Heaven. There sat all the gods assembled. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-strange-thing-happened-to-me-in-my-dream-i-was-rapt-into-the/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [That which is truly human no generation learns from the one before it. No generation learns from another how to love. No generation has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/that-which-is-truly-human-no-generation-learns-from-the-one-before-it/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A man may perform astonishing feats and comprehend a vast amount of knowledge, and yet have no understanding of himself. But suffering directs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-man-may-perform-astonishing-feats-and-comprehend-a-vast-amount-of/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Be that self which one truly is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/be-that-self-which-one-truly-is/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I go fishing for a thousand monsters in the depths of my own self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-go-fishing-for-a-thousand-monsters-in-the-depths-of-my-own-self/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Future is everything that past has forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/future-is-everything-that-past-has-forgotten/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Without risk, faith is an impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/without-risk-faith-is-an-impossibility/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I have only one confidant, and that is the silence of night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-only-one-confidant-and-that-is-the-silence-of-night/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A road well begun is the battle half won. The important thing is to make a beginning and get under way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-road-well-begun-is-the-battle-half-won-the-important-thing-is-to/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I have, I believe, the courage to doubt everything; I have, I believe, the courage to fight against everything; but I do not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-i-believe-the-courage-to-doubt-everything-i-have-i-believe-the/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) [Explore all 462 Soren Kierkegaard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## More Backward quotes > [I hate looking backward, but every once in a while it sneaks up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-hate-looking-backward-but-every-once-in-a-while-it-sneaks-up-on-you/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) > [“Thus the thoughtless drift backward toward slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/thus-the-thoughtless-drift-backward-toward-slavery/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [“Whoever said that the past isn’t dead had it backward. It’s the future that’s already dead, already played out. This whole night has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/whoever-said-that-the-past-isn-t-dead-had-it-backward-it-s-the-future/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honestly-if-you-were-any-slower-you-d-be-going-backward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I learn things in a backward way. I learn all those limitations, and slowly my brain soaks them up, and if things go right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-learn-things-in-a-backward-way-i-learn-all-those-limitations-and/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [“It took us a while to discover that we do effectively think, but that we more readily narrate backward in order to give ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/it-took-us-a-while-to-discover-that-we-do-effectively-think-but-that/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“Our habit of wishing backward from what is to what might have been is the soft but persistent tapping that cracks the crystal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/our-habit-of-wishing-backward-from-what-is-to-what-might-have-been-is/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [The thing I love most about my job is watching people age backward, becoming more lively and energetic as they free themselves from situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-thing-i-love-most-about-my-job-is-watching-people-age-backward/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“Dreaming her way backward in time, resurrecting images, the young girl realized, with wonder, that the absent are always present, that you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-shields/dreaming-her-way-backward-in-time-resurrecting-images-the-young-girl/) [Carol Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-shields/) > [“Us ballplayers do things backward. First we play, then we retire and go to work. —CHARLIE GEHRINGER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-wilde/us-ballplayers-do-things-backward-first-we-play-then-we-retire-and-go-2/) [Lori Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-wilde/) > [This was the Darker Life, where every truth was written backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/this-was-the-darker-life-where-every-truth-was-written-backward/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!I am so weary of toil and of tears,-Toil without recompense, tears all in vain!Take them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chase-allen/backward-flow-backward-o-tide-of-the-years-i-am-so-weary-of-toil-and/) [Elizabeth Chase Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chase-allen/) > [I loved you backward and forward in time. I loved you beyond boundaries of time and space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-loved-you-backward-and-forward-in-time-i-loved-you-beyond/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead; that is where your future lies. Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/nobody-gets-to-live-life-backward-look-ahead-that-is-where-your/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [“Life, too, is like that. You live it forward, but understand it backward." from CUTTING FOR STONE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/life-too-is-like-that-you-live-it-forward-but-understand-it-backward/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) Browse all 340 Backward quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Philosophy is perfectly right in saying that life must be understood backward. But then one forgets the other clause - that it must be lived forward. 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