---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sin is in itself separation from the…"
description: "\"Sin is in itself separation from the good, but despair over sin is separation a second time.\" — Soren Kierkegaard"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/soren-kierkegaard-578_despair_sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-goo_1828741.jpg"
---

#  Sin is in itself separation from the good, but despair…

![“Sin is in itself separation from the good, but despair over sin is separation a second time.” quote by Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/soren-kierkegaard-578_despair_sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-goo_1828741.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/soren-kierkegaard-578_despair_sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-goo_1828741.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/soren-kierkegaard-578_despair_sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-goo_1828741.jpg)

> “Sin is in itself separation from the good, but despair over sin is separation a second time.”

[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.

Sin separates us from good; despair adds a second separation, deepening alienation.

**In simple terms:** Sin creates distance; despair worsens it.

Key Takeaway

Avoid despair by confronting sin directly.

Themes

sin despair spirituality

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical theological

When to use this quote

- Moral decision making
- spiritual counseling
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

existentialism ethical responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- Can despair be transformed into growth?
- What does confronting sin look like?

A Different Perspective

Despair may paralyze action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Despair Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair-sin-2256726/) [Good Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-despair-2256731/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-good-2256729/) [Separation Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-second-2256727/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-separation-752328/) [Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [The act of exploring what the men are, and moreover the separation of the good from the evil, is visitation; and the good are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-act-of-exploring-what-the-men-are-and-moreover-the-separation-of/)

[Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/)

> [In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair...the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/in-the-world-it-is-called-tolerance-but-in-hell-it-is-called-despair/)

[Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/)

> [“...sin is separation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/sin-is-separation/)

[Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/)

> [“Pessimism is not in being tired of evil but in being tired of good. Despair does not lie in being weary of suffering, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/pessimism-is-not-in-being-tired-of-evil-but-in-being-tired-of-good-3/)

[G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/)

> [Despair is good. Despair can be the nadir of one life and the starting point of an ascent into another, better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/despair-is-good-despair-can-be-the-nadir-of-one-life-and-the-starting/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [Love is not about being with the person you love its about being apart from them and still loving and caring for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/love-is-not-about-being-with-the-person-you-love-its-about-being/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [ I do not make decisions \[as governor\] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-based-on-what-have-i-learned/)

[Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/)

> [I really never felt any tremendous aggravation or separation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/i-really-never-felt-any-tremendous-aggravation-or-separation/)

[Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/)

> [Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/where-in-the-constitution-is-the-separation-of-church-and-state/)

[Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/)

> [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [“Silver linings abound: I always knew I loved my son, but you certainly get a “perspective-check” when you go through a parting like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kozak/silver-linings-abound-i-always-knew-i-loved-my-son-but-you-certainly/)

[Rob Kozak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kozak/)

> [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

> [If we are meant to be, no matter what, no matter how long it takes, we will be together. So I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ely/if-we-are-meant-to-be-no-matter-what-no-matter-how-long-it-takes-we/)

[Ely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ely/)

> [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

## 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 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 &amp; 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": "Sin is in itself separation from the good, but despair over sin is separation a second time.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Soren Kierkegaard"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-good-but-despair-over-sin-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Despair"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-good-but-despair-over-sin-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/soren-kierkegaard-578_despair_sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-goo_1828741.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/soren-kierkegaard-578_despair_sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-goo_1828741.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/soren-kierkegaard-578_despair_sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-goo_1828741.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sin is in itself separation from the good, but despair over sin is separation a second time.” — Soren 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": "Soren Kierkegaard",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sin is in itself separation from...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-good-but-despair-over-sin-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/sin-is-in-itself-separation-from-the-good-but-despair-over-sin-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
