Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen was a major Norwegian playwright largely responsible for the rise of modern realistic drama. He is often referred to as the "father of modern drama." Ibsen is held to be the greatest of Norwegian authors and one of the most important playwrights of all time, celebrated as a national symbol by Norwegians.
His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when Victorian values of family life and propriety largely held sway in Europe and any challenge to them was considered immoral and outrageous. Ibsen's work examined the realities that lay behind many facades, possessing a revelatory nature that was disquieting to many contemporaries.
Ibsen largely founded the modern stage by introducing a critical eye and free inquiry into the conditions of life and issues of morality. Victorian-era plays were expected to be moral dramas with noble protagonists pitted against darker forces; every drama was expected to result in a morally appropriate conclusion, meaning that goodness was to bring happiness, and immorality pain. Ibsen challenged this notion and the beliefs of his times and shattered the illusions of his audiences.
“Money may be the husk of many things but not the kernel. It brings you food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintance, but not friends; servants, but not loyalty; days of joy, but not peace or happiness.”
“Helmer: I would gladly work night and day for you. Nora- bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrifice his honor for the one he loves.Nora: It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done.”
“You have never loved me. You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me.”
“Tar de livsløgnen fra et gjennomsnittsmenneske, så tar du lykken ifra ham med det samme”
“Vogt dig, barn, for tjernets strømme.Farligt, farligt der at drømme!Nøkken lader som han sover;liljer leger ovenover.”
“Borkman: Dann haben wir uns gegenseitig etwas vorgemacht. Und uns selber haben wir vielleicht auch etwas vorgemacht – beide.Foldal: Ja, John Gabriel, aber ist das denn nicht im Grunde das Wesen der Freundschaft?Borkman (lächelt bitter): Doch, doch, lügen und betrügen – das ist Freundschaft. Da hast du recht. Diese Erfahrung habe ich schon einmal in meinem Leben gemacht.”
“Nicht Mord. Nicht Diebstahl, Raub oder nächtlicher Einbruch – auch Meineid nicht. Denn das alles sind ja Dinge, die man meist Leuten antut, die man haßt oder die einem gleichgültig sind und einen nichts angehen. […] Das Infamste von allem – das ist, wenn der Freund das Vertrauen des Freundes missbraucht.”
“Sjel, vær trofast til det siste!Seirens seir er alt å miste.Tapets alt din vinning skapte; -evig eies kun det tapte.”
“It’s a release to know that in spite of everything a premeditated act of courage is still possible.”
“Don't use that exotic word "ideals". We have a good enough native word: "lies".”
“Dr. Stockmann. I have already told you that what I want to speak about is the great discovery I have made lately--the discovery that all the sources of our moral life are poisoned and that the hole fabric of our civic community is founded on the pestiferous soil of falsehood.”
“Die Flügel gespannt! Die Segel herausDem Aar gleich des Lebens Meer ich durchsaus -Lass hinten der Möwen Scharen..Über Bord mit Vernunft, dem schweren Ballast!Vielleicht wird mein Schiff vom Strudel erfasstDoch es ist so herrlich zu fahren”
“en bruger brændevin, en anden bruger løgne; å ja! så brugte vi eventyr om prinser og trolde og allslags dyr”
“The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That's one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help rebelling against. Who are the people that make up the biggest proportion of the population -- the intelligent ones or the fools?”
“I don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over.”
“I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are--or, at all events, that I must try and become one.”
“What is the difference in being alone with another and being alone by one's self?”
“A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed.”
“To live is to war with trolls.”
“One of the qualities of liberty is that, as long as it is being striven after, it goes on expanding. Therefore, the man who stands in the midst of the struggle and says, "I have it," merely shows by doing so that he has just lost it.”