Quotes by Henrik Ibsen

Laughters all the damned things fit for.

Its not only what we have inherited from our father and mother that walks in us. Its all sorts of dead ideas, and lifeless old beliefs, and so forth. They have no vitality, but they cling to us all the same, and we cant get rid of them.

Ghosts! […] I almost think we are all of us ghosts. It is not only what we have inherited from our father and mother that ‘walks’ in us. It is all sorts of dead ideas, and lifeless old beliefs, and so forth. They have no vitality, but they cling to us all the same, and we cannot shake them off. Whenever I take up a newspaper, I seem to see ghosts gliding between the lines. There must be ghosts all the country over, as thick as the sands of the sea. And then we are, one and all, so pitifully afraid of the light.

While I think of it, Mr. Werle, junior — dont use that foreign word: ideals. We have the excellent native word: lies.

Cage an eagle and it will bite at the wires, be they ofiron or of gold.

Now I am steel-set: I follow the call to the clear radiance and glow of the heights.

And what if I did run my ship aground oh still it was splendid to sail it!

To seek ones goals and to drive toward it steeling ones heart is most uplifting!

This is life! It can harden and it can exalt!

One should never put on ones best trousers to go out to battle for freedom and truth.

A minority may be right a majority is always wrong.

Marriage is something you have to give your whole mind to.

A minority may be right and a majority is always wrong.

Whats a mans first duty? The answer is brief: To be himself.

The strongest man is the one who stands most alone.

The sea possesses a power over ones moods that has the effect of a will. The sea can hypnotize. Nature in general can do so.

Yes you may depend upon it he has the ability! He is the younger generation that stands ready to knock at my door - to make an end of Halvard Solness.

A forest bird never wants a cage.

It is inexcusable for scientists to torture animals let them make their experiments on journalists and politicians.

The spectacles of experience through them you will see clearly a second time.