Sren Kierkegaard (Johannes De Silentio)

Fear and Trembling

1843
(Translated by Walter Lowrie 1!41)
Was Tarquinius Superbus in seinem Garten mit den Mohnkopfen sprach, verstand der
Sohn, aber nicht der Bote. (What Tarquinius Superbus spoke in his garden with the
poppies was understood b his son, but not b the messenger.!
"amann.
"re#a$e
%ot &erely in the real& o# $o&&er$e b't in the world o# ideas as well o'r age is
organi(ing a reg'lar $learan$e sale) *+erything is to be had at s'$h a bargain that it is
,'estionable whether in the end there is anybody who will want to bid) *+ery
s-e$'lati+e -ri$e.#i/er who $ons$ientio'sly dire$ts attention to the signi#i$ant &ar$h
o# &odern -hiloso-hy e+ery #rivatdocent t'tor and st'dent e+ery $ro#ter and $ottar
in -hiloso-hy is not $ontent with do'bting e+erything b't goes #'rther) "erha-s it
wo'ld be 'nti&ely and ill.ti&ed to ask the& where they are going b't s'rely it is
$o'rteo's and 'nobtr'si+e to regard it as $ertain that they ha+e do'bted e+erything
sin$e otherwise it wo'ld be a ,'eer thing #or the& to be going #'rther) This
-reli&inary &o+e&ent they ha+e there#ore all o# the& &ade and -res'&ably with
s'$h ease that they do not #ind it ne$essary to let dro- a word abo't the how 0 #or not
e+en he who an/io'sly and with dee- $on$ern so'ght a little enlighten&ent was able
to #ind any s'$h thing any g'iding sign any little dieteti$ -res$ri-tion as to how one
was to $o&-ort onesel# in s'--orting this -rodigio's task) 1 2't Des$artes did it) 3
Des$artes a +enerable h'&ble and honest thinker whose writings s'rely no one $an
read witho't the dee-est e&otion did what he said and said what he did) 4las ala$k
that is a great rarity in o'r ti&es 5 Des$artes as he re-eatedly a##ir&ed did not do'bt
in &atters o# #aith) $ Memores tamen, ut %am dictum est, huic &umini natura&i tamdiu
tantum esse credendum, quamdiu nihi& contrarium a 'eo ipso reve&atur. ( #raeter
caetera autem, memoriae nostrae pro summa regu&a est infigendum, ea quae nobis a
'eo reve&ata sunt, ut omnium certissima esse credenda ) et quamvis forte &umen
rationis, quam ma*ime c&arum et evidens, a&iud quid nobis suggerere videretur, so&d
tamen auctoritati divinae potius quam proprio nostro %udicio fidem esse
adhibendam. + 67e&e&bering howe+er as 8 ha+e already said that the nat'ral light
is to be tr'sted only in so #ar as nothing to the $ontrary is re+ealed by 9od :i&sel#)
; <oreo+er it &'st be #i/ed in one=s &e&ory as the highest r'le that what has been
1
re+ealed to 's by 9od is to be belie+ed as the &ost $ertain o# all things 0 and e+en
tho'gh the light o# reason sho'ld see& &ost $learly to s'ggest so&ething else we
&'st ne+ertheless gi+e $reeden$e to the di+ine a'thority only rather than o'r own
>'dg&ent)? (#rincipia phi&osophiae, pars prima @8 and AB))
:e did not $ry 1 Cire 5 3 nor did he &ake it a d'ty #or e+eryone to do'bt 0 #or
Des$artes was a ,'iet and solitary thinker not a bellowing night.wat$h&an 0 he
&odestly ad&itted that his &ethod had i&-ortan$e #or hi& alone and was >'sti#ied in
-art by the b'ngled knowledge o# his earlier years) $ ,e quis igitur putet me hic
traditurum a&iquam methodum quam unusquisque sequi debeat ad recte regendum
rationem ) i&&am enim tantum quam ipsemet secutus sum e*ponere decrevi. ( Sed
simu& ac i&&ud studiorum curricu&um abso&vi (sc. %uventutis!, quo decurso mos est in
eruditorum numerum cooptari, p&ane a&iud coepi cogitare. Tot enim me dubiis totque
erroribus imp&icatum esse animadverti, ut omnes discendi conatus nihi& a&iud mihi
profuisse %udicarem, quam quod ignorantiam meam magis magisque dete*issem. +
6Let no one think that 8 a& here to -ro-o'nd a &ethod whi$h e+eryone o'ght to
#ollow in order to go+ern his reason aright 0 #or 8 ha+e &erely the intention o#
e/-o'nding the &ethod 8 &ysel# ha+e #ollowed) ; 2't no sooner had 8 #inished the
$o'rse o# st'dy at the $on$l'sion o# whi$h one is ordinarily ado-ted into the ranks o#
the learned than 8 began to think o# so&ething +ery di##erent #ro& that) Cor 8 be$a&e
aware that 8 was in+ol+ed in so &any do'bts so &any errors that all e##orts to learn
were as 8 saw it o# no other hel- to &e than 8 &ight &ore and &ore dis$o+er &y
ignoran$e)? ('issertatio de methodo --) @ and 3)
What those an$ient 9reeks (who also had so&e 'nderstanding o# -hiloso-hy)
regarded as a task #or a whole li#eti&e seeing that de/terity in do'bting is not
a$,'ired in a #ew days or weeks what the +eteran $o&batant attained when he had
-reser+ed the e,'ilibri'& o# do'bt thro'gh all the -it#alls he en$o'ntered who
intre-idly denied the $ertainty o# sense.-er$e-tion and the $ertainty o# the -ro$esses
o# tho'ght in$orr'-tibly de#ied the a--rehensions o# sel#.lo+e and the insin'ations o#
sy&-athy D that is where e+erybody begins in o'r ti&e)
8n o'r ti&e nobody is $ontent to sto- with #aith b't wants to go #'rther) 8t wo'ld
-erha-s be rash to ask where these -eo-le are going b't it is s'rely a sign o# breeding
and $'lt're #or &e to ass'&e that e+erybody has #aith #or otherwise it wo'ld be ,'eer
#or the& to be ; going #'rther) 8n those old days it was di##erent then #aith was a task
#or a whole li#eti&e be$a'se it was ass'&ed that de/terity in #aith is not a$,'ired in a
#ew days or weeks) When the tried oldster drew near to his last ho'r ha+ing #o'ght
the good #ight and ke-t the #aith his heart was still yo'ng eno'gh not to ha+e
#orgotten that #ear and tre&bling whi$h $hastened the yo'th whi$h the &an indeed
held in $he$k b't whi$h no &an ,'ite o'tgrows ; e/$e-t as he &ight s'$$eed at the
earliest o--ort'nity in going #'rther) Where these re+ered #ig'res arri+ed that is the
-oint where e+erybody in o'r day begins to go #'rther)
The -resent writer is nothing o# a -hiloso-her he has not 'nderstood the Syste& does
not know whether it a$t'ally e/ists whether it is $o&-leted 0 already he has eno'gh
#or his weak head in the tho'ght o# what a -rodigio's head e+erybody in o'r day &'st
ha+e sin$e e+erybody has s'$h a -rodigio's tho'ght) *+en tho'gh one were $a-able
o# $on+erting the whole $ontent o# #aith into the #or& o# a $on$e-t it does not #ollow
@
that one has ade,'ately $on$ei+ed #aith and 'nderstands how one got into it or how it
got into one) The -resent writer is nothing o# a -hiloso-her 0 he is poetice et
e&eganter an a&ate'r writer who neither writes the Syste& nor promises o# the
Syste& who neither s'bs$ribes to the Syste& nor as$ribes anything to it) :e writes
be$a'se #or hi& it is a l'/'ry whi$h be$o&es the &ore agreeable and &ore e+ident
the #ewer there are who b'y and read what he writes) :e $an easily #oresee his #ate in
an age when -assion has been obliterated in #a+or o# learning in an age when an
a'thor who wants to ha+e readers &'st take $are to write in s'$h a way that the book
$an easily be -er'sed d'ring the a#ternoon na- and take $are to #ashion his o'tward
de-ort&ent in likeness to the -i$t're o# that -olite yo'ng gardener in the
ad+ertise&ent sheet who with hat in hand and with a good $erti#i$ate #ro& the -la$e
where he last ser+ed re$o&&ends hi&sel# to the estee&ed -'bli$) :e #oresees his #ate
D that he will be entirely ignored) :e has a -resenti&ent o# the dread#'l e+ent that a
>ealo's $riti$is& will &any a ti&e let hi& #eel the bir$h 0 he tre&bles at the still &ore
dread#'l tho'ght that one or another enter-rising s$ribe a g'l-er o# -aragra-hs who
to res$'e learning is always willing to do with other -eo-les= writings what Tro- 1 to
-reser+e good taste 3 &agnani&o'sly resol+ed to do with a book $alled The
'estruction of the "uman -ace D that is he will sli$e the a'thor into -aragra-hs and
will do it with the sa&e in#le/ibility as the &an who in the interest o# the s$ien$e o#
-'n$t'ation di+ided his dis$o'rse by $o'nting the words so that there were #i#ty
words #or a -eriod and thirty.#i+e #or a se&i$olon)
8 -rostrate &ysel# with the -ro#o'ndest de#eren$e be#ore e+ery syste&ati$ 1 bag.
-eerer 3 at the $'sto& ho'se -rotesting 1 This is not the Syste& it has nothing
whate+er to do with the Syste&) 3 8 $all down e+ery blessing '-on the Syste& and
'-on the Danish shareholders in this o&nib's D #or a tower it is hardly likely to
be$o&e) 8 wish the& all and s'ndry good l'$k and all -ros-erity)
-espectfu&&,
Johannes De Silentio
"rel'de
En$e '-on a ti&e there was a &an who as a $hild had heard the bea'ti#'l story abo't
how 9od te&-ted 4braha& and how he end'red te&-tation ke-t the #aith and a
se$ond ti&e re$ei+ed again a son $ontrary to e/-e$tation) When the $hild be$a&e
older he read the sa&e story with e+en greater ad&iration #or li#e had se-arated what
was 'nited in the -io's si&-li$ity o# the $hild) The older he be$a&e the &ore
#re,'ently his &ind re+erted to that story his enth'sias& be$a&e greater and greater
and yet he was less and less able to 'nderstand the story) 4t last in his interest #or that
he #orgot e+erything else 0 his so'l had only one wish to see 4braha& one longing
to ha+e been witness to that e+ent) :is desire was not to behold the bea'ti#'l $o'ntries
o# the Erient or the earthly glory o# the "ro&ised Land or that god#earing $o'-le
3
whose old age 9od had blessed or the +enerable #ig're o# the aged -atriar$h or the
+igoro's yo'ng &anhood o# 8saa$ who& 9od had bestowed '-on 4braha& D he saw
no reason why the sa&e thing &ight not ha+e taken -la$e on a barren heath in
Den&ark) :is yearning was to a$$o&-any the& on the three days= >o'rney when
4braha& rode with sorrow be#ore hi& and with 8saa$ by his side) :is only wish was
to be -resent at the ti&e when 4braha& li#ted '- his eyes and saw <o'nt <oriah a#ar
o## at the ti&e when he le#t the asses behind and went alone with 8saa$ '- 'nto the
&o'ntain 0 #or what his &ind was intent '-on was not the ingenio's web o#
i&agination b't the sh'dder o# tho'ght)
That &an was not a thinker he #elt no need o# getting beyond #aith 0 he dee&ed it the
&ost glorio's thing to be re&e&bered as the #ather o# it an en+iable lot to -ossess it
e+en tho'gh no one else were to know it)
That &an was not a learned e/egete he didn=t know :ebrew i# he had known
:ebrew he -erha-s wo'ld easily ha+e 'nderstood the story and 4braha&)
8
$ .nd God tempted .braham and said unto him, Take /saac, shine on& son, whom
thou &ovest, and get thee into the &and of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt
offering upon the mountain which / wi&& show thee. +
8t was early in the &orning 4braha& arose beti&es he had the asses saddled le#t his
tent and 8saa$ with hi& b't Sarah looked o't o# the window a#ter the& 'ntil they had
-assed down the +alley and she $o'ld see the& no &ore) They rode in silen$e #or
three days) En the &orning o# the #o'rth day 4braha& said ne+er a word b't he li#ted
'- his eyes and saw <o'nt <oriah a#ar o##) :e le#t the yo'ng &en behind and went
on alone with 8saa$ beside hi& '- to the &o'ntain) 2't 4braha& said to hi&sel# 1 8
will not $on$eal #ro& 8saa$ whither this $o'rse leads hi&) 3 :e stood still he laid his
hand '-on the head o# 8saa$ in benedi$tion and 8saa$ bowed to re$ei+e the blessing)
4nd 4braha&=s #a$e was #atherliness his look was &ild his s-ee$h en$o'raging) 2't
8saa$ was 'nable to 'nderstand hi& his so'l $o'ld not be e/alted 0 he e&bra$ed
4braha&=s knees he #ell at his #eet i&-loringly he begged #or his yo'ng li#e #or the
#air ho-e o# his #'t're he $alled to &ind the >oy in 4braha&=s ho'se he $alled to
&ind the sorrow and loneliness) Then 4braha& li#ted '- the boy he walked with hi&
by his side and his talk was #'ll o# $o&#ort and e/hortation) 2't 8saa$ $o'ld not
'nderstand hi&) :e $li&bed <o'nt <oriah b't 8saa$ 'nderstood hi& not) Then #or
an instant he t'rned away #ro& hi& and when 8saa$ again saw 4braha&=s #a$e it was
$hanged his glan$e was wild his #or& was horror) :e sei(ed 8saa$ by the throat
threw hi& to the gro'nd and said 1 St'-id boy dost tho' then s'--ose that 8 a& thy
#ather F 8 a& an idolater) Dost tho' s'--ose that this is 9od=s bidding F %o it is &y
desire) 3 Then 8saa$ tre&bled and $ried o't in his terror 1 E 9od in hea+en ha+e
$o&-assion '-on &e) 9od o# 4braha& ha+e $o&-assion '-on &e) 8# 8 ha+e no #ather
'-on earth be Tho' &y #ather 5 3 2't 4braha& in a low +oi$e said to hi&sel# 1 E
Lord in hea+en 8 thank Thee) 4#ter all it is better #or hi& to belie+e that 8 a& a
&onster rather than that he sho'ld lose #aith in Thee) 3
When the $hild &'st be weaned the &other bla$kens her breast it wo'ld indeed be a
4
sha&e that the breast sho'ld look deli$io's when the $hild &'st not ha+e it) So the
$hild belie+es that the breast has $hanged b't the &other is the sa&e her glan$e is as
lo+ing and tender as e+er) :a--y the -erson who had no need o# &ore dread#'l
e/-edients #or weaning the $hild 5
88
8t was early in the &orning 4braha& arose beti&es he e&bra$ed Sarah the bride o#
his old age and Sarah kissed 8saa$ who had taken away her re-roa$h who was her
-ride her ho-e #or all ti&e) So they rode on in silen$e along the way and 4braha&=s
glan$e was #i/ed '-on the gro'nd 'ntil the #o'rth day when he li#ted '- his eyes and
saw a#ar o## <o'nt <oriah b't his glan$e t'rned again to the gro'nd) Silently he laid
the wood in order he bo'nd 8saa$ in silen$e he drew the kni#e D then he saw the ra&
whi$h 9od had -re-ared) Then he o##ered that and ret'rned ho&e) ; Cro& that ti&e
on 4braha& be$a&e old he $o'ld not #orget that 9od had re,'ired this o# hi&) 8saa$
thro+e as be#ore b't 4braha&=s eyes were darkened and he knew >oy no &ore)
When the $hild has grown big and &'st be weaned the &other +irginally hides her
breast so the $hild has no &ore a &other) :a--y the $hild whi$h did not in another
way lose its &other)
888
8t was early in the &orning 4braha& arose beti&es he kissed Sarah the yo'ng
&other and Sarah kissed 8saa$ her delight her >oy at all ti&es) 4nd 4braha& rode
-ensi+ely along the way he tho'ght o# :agar and o# the son who& he dro+e o't into
the wilderness he $li&bed <o'nt <oriah he drew the kni#e)
8t was a ,'iet e+ening when 4braha& rode o't alone and he rode to <o'nt <oriah 0
he threw hi&sel# '-on his #a$e he -rayed 9od to #orgi+e hi& his sin that he had been
willing to o##er 8saa$ that the #ather had #orgotten his d'ty toward the son) E#ten he
rode his lonely way b't he #o'nd no rest) :e $o'ld not $o&-rehend that it was a sin
to be willing to o##er to 9od the best thing he -ossessed that #or whi$h he wo'ld
&any ti&es ha+e gi+en his li#e 0 and i# it was a sin i# he had not lo+ed 8saa$ as he did
then he $o'ld not 'nderstand that it &ight be #orgi+en) Cor what sin $o'ld be &ore
dread#'l F
When the $hild &'st be weaned the &other too is not witho't sorrow at the tho'ght
that she and the $hild are se-arated &ore and &ore that the $hild whi$h #irst lay 'nder
her heart and later re-osed '-on her breast will be so near to her no &ore) So they
&o'rn together #or the brie# -eriod o# &o'rning) :a--y the -erson who has ke-t the
$hild as near and needed not to sorrow any &ore 5
8G
8t was early in the &orning e+erything was -re-ared #or the >o'rney in 4braha&=s
ho'se) :e bade Sarah #arewell and *lea(ar the #aith#'l ser+ant #ollowed hi& along
the way 'ntil he t'rned ba$k) They rode together in har&ony 4braha& and 8saa$
H
'ntil they $a&e to <o'nt <oriah) 2't 4braha& -re-ared e+erything #or the sa$ri#i$e
$al&ly and ,'ietly 0 b't when he t'rned and drew the kni#e 8saa$ saw that his le#t
hand was $len$hed in des-air that a tre&or -assed thro'gh his body D b't 4braha&
drew the kni#e)
Then they ret'rned again ho&e and Sarah hastened to &eet the& b't 8saa$ had lost
his #aith) %o word o# this had e+er been s-oken in the world and 8saa$ ne+er talked to
anyone abo't what he had seen and 4braha& did not s's-e$t that anyone had seen it)
When the $hild &'st be weaned the &other has stronger #ood in readiness lest the
$hild sho'ld -erish) :a--y the -erson who has stronger #ood in readiness 5
Th's and in &any like ways that &an o# who& we are s-eaking tho'ght $on$erning
this e+ent) *+ery ti&e he ret'rned ho&e a#ter wandering to <o'nt <oriah he sank
down with weariness he #olded his hands and said 1 %o one is so great as 4braha& 5
Who is $a-able o# 'nderstanding hi& F 3
4 "anegyri$ '-on 4braha&
8# there were no eternal $ons$io'sness in a &an i# at the #o'ndation o# all there lay
only a wildly seething -ower whi$h writhing with obs$'re -assions -rod'$ed
e+erything that is great and e+erything that is insigni#i$ant i# a botto&less +oid ne+er
satiated lay hidden beneath all D what then wo'ld li#e be b't des-air F 8# s'$h were the
$ase i# there were no sa$red bond whi$h 'nited &ankind i# one generation arose a#ter
another like the lea#age in the #orest i# the one generation re-la$ed the other like the
song o# birds in the #orest i# the h'&an ra$e -assed thro'gh the world as the shi- goes
thro'gh the sea like the wind thro'gh the desert a tho'ghtless and #r'itless a$ti+ity i#
an eternal obli+ion were always l'rking h'ngrily #or its -rey and there was no -ower
strong eno'gh to wrest it #ro& its &aw D how e&-ty then and $o&#ortless li#e wo'ld
be 5 2't there#ore it is not th's b't as 9od $reated &an and wo&an so too :e
#ashioned the hero and the -oet or orator) The -oet $annot do what that other does he
$an only ad&ire lo+e and re>oi$e in the hero) Iet he too is ha--y and not less so #or
the hero is as it were his better nat're with whi$h he is in lo+e re>oi$ing in the #a$t
that this a#ter all is not hi&sel# that his lo+e $an be ad&iration) :e is the geni's o#
re$olle$tion $an do nothing e/$e-t $all to &ind what has been done do nothing b't
ad&ire what has been done 0 he $ontrib'tes nothing o# his own b't is >ealo's o# the
intr'sted treas're) :e #ollows the o-tion o# his heart b't when he has #o'nd what he
so'ght he wanders be#ore e+ery &an=s door with his song and with his oration that
all &ay ad&ire the hero as he does be -ro'd o# the hero as he is) This is his
a$hie+e&ent his h'&ble work this is his #aith#'l ser+i$e in the ho'se o# the hero) 8#
he th's re&ains tr'e to his lo+e he stri+es day and night against the $'nning o#
obli+ion whi$h wo'ld tri$k hi& o't o# his hero then he has $o&-leted his work then
he is gathered to the hero who has lo+ed hi& >'st as #aith#'lly #or the -oet is as it
were the hero=s better nat're -owerless it &ay be as a &e&ory is b't also
B
trans#ig'red as a &e&ory is) :en$e no one shall be #orgotten who was great and
tho'gh ti&e tarries long tho'gh a $lo'd o# &is'nderstanding takes the hero away his
lo+er $o&es ne+ertheless and the longer the ti&e that has -assed the &ore #aith#'lly
will he $ling to hi&)
%o not one shall be #orgotten who was great in the world) 2't ea$h was great in his
own way and ea$h in -ro-ortion to the greatness o# that whi$h he lo+ed) Cor he who
lo+ed hi&sel# be$a&e great by hi&sel# and he who lo+ed other &en be$a&e great by
his sel#less de+otion b't he who lo+ed 9od be$a&e greater than all) *+eryone shall
be re&e&bered b't ea$h be$a&e great in -ro-ortion to his e/-e$tation) Ene be$a&e
great by e/-e$ting the -ossible another by e/-e$ting the eternal b't he who e/-e$ted
the i&-ossible be$a&e greater than all) *+eryone shall be re&e&bered b't ea$h was
great in -ro-ortion to the greatness o# that with whi$h he stro+e) Cor he who stro+e
with the world be$a&e great by o+er$o&ing the world and he who stro+e with
hi&sel# be$a&e great by o+er$o&ing hi&sel# b't he who stro+e with 9od be$a&e
greater than all) So there was stri#e in the world &an against &an one against a
tho'sand b't he who stro+e with 9od was greater than all) So there was stri#e '-on
earth J there was one who o+er$a&e all by his -ower and there was one who
o+er$a&e 9od by his i&-oten$e) There was one who relied '-on hi&sel# and gained
all there was one who se$'re in his strength sa$ri#i$ed all b't he who belie+ed 9od
was greater than all) There was one who was great by reason o# his -ower and one
who was great by reason o# his wisdo& and one who was great by reason o# his ho-e
and one who was great by reason o# his lo+e 0 b't 4braha& was greater than all great
by reason o# his -ower whose strength is i&-oten$e great by reason o# his wisdo&
whose se$ret is #oolishness great by reason o# his ho-e whose #or& is &adness great
by reason o# the lo+e whi$h is hatred o# onesel#)
2y #aith 4braha& went o't #ro& the land o# his #athers and be$a&e a so>o'rner in the
land o# -ro&ise) :e le#t one thing behind took one thing with hi& J he le#t his earthly
'nderstanding behind and took #aith with hi& D otherwise he wo'ld not ha+e
wandered #orth b't wo'ld ha+e tho'ght this 'nreasonable) 2y #aith he was a stranger
in the land o# -ro&ise and there was nothing to re$all what was dear to hi& b't by its
no+elty e+erything te&-ted his so'l to &elan$holy yearning D and yet he was 9od=s
ele$t in who& the Lord was well -leased 5 Iea i# he had been disowned $ast o##
#ro& 9od=s gra$e he $o'ld ha+e $o&-rehended it better 0 b't now it was like a
&o$kery o# hi& and o# his #aith) There was in the world one too who li+ed in
banish&ent #ro& the #atherland he lo+ed) :e is not #orgotten nor his La&entations
when he sorrow#'lly so'ght and #o'nd what he had lost) There is no song o#
La&entations by 4braha&) 8t is h'&an to la&ent h'&an to wee- with the& that
wee- b't it is greater to belie+e &ore blessed to $onte&-late the belie+er)
2y #aith 4braha& re$ei+ed the -ro&ise that in his seed all ra$es o# the world wo'ld be
blessed) Ti&e -assed the -ossibility was there 4braha& belie+ed 0 ti&e -assed it
be$a&e 'nreasonable 4braha& belie+ed) There was in the world one who had an
e/-e$tation ti&e -assed the e+ening drew nigh he was not -altry eno'gh to ha+e
#orgotten his e/-e$tation there#ore he too shall not be #orgotten) Then he sorrowed
and sorrow did not de$ei+e hi& as li#e had done it did #or hi& all it $o'ld in the
sweetness o# sorrow he -ossessed his del'si+e e/-e$tation) 8t is h'&an to sorrow
h'&an to sorrow with the& that sorrow b't it is greater to belie+e &ore blessed to
A
$onte&-late the belie+er) There is no song o# La&entations by 4braha&) :e did not
&o'rn#'lly $o'nt the days while ti&e -assed he did not look at Sarah with a
s's-i$io's glan$e wondering whether she were growing old he did not arrest the
$o'rse o# the s'n that Sarah &ight not grow old and his e/-e$tation with her) :e did
not sing l'llingly be#ore Sarah his &o'rn#'l lay) 4braha& be$a&e old Sarah be$a&e
a la'ghingsto$k in the land and yet he was 9od=s ele$t and inheritor o# the -ro&ise
that in his seed all the ra$es o# the world wo'ld be blessed) So were it not better i# he
had not been 9od=s ele$t F What is it to be 9od=s ele$t F 8t is to be denied in yo'th the
wishes o# yo'th so as with great -ains to get the& #'l#illed in old age) 2't 4braha&
belie+ed and held #ast the e/-e$tation) 8# 4braha& had wa+ered he wo'ld ha+e gi+en
it '-) 8# he had said to 9od 1 Then -erha-s it is not a#ter all Thy will that it sho'ld
$o&e to -ass so 8 will gi+e '- the wish) 8t was &y only wish it was &y bliss) <y
so'l is sin$ere 8 hide no se$ret &ali$e be$a'se Tho' didst deny it to &e 3 D he wo'ld
not ha+e been #orgotten he wo'ld ha+e sa+ed &any by his e/a&-le yet he wo'ld not
be the #ather o# #aith) Cor it is great to gi+e '- one=s wish b't it is greater to hold it
#ast a#ter ha+ing gi+en it '- it is great to gras- the eternal b't it is greater to hold #ast
to the te&-oral a#ter ha+ing gi+en it '-)
Then $a&e the #'lness o# ti&e) 8# 4braha& had not belie+ed Sarah s'rely wo'ld ha+e
been dead o# sorrow and 4braha& d'lled by grie# wo'ld not ha+e 'nderstood the
#'l#il&ent b't wo'ld ha+e s&iled at it as at a drea& o# yo'th) 2't 4braha& belie+ed
there#ore he was yo'ng 0 #or he who always ho-es #or the best be$o&es old and he
who is always -re-ared #or the worst grows old early b't he who belie+es -reser+es
an eternal yo'th) "raise there#ore to that story 5 Cor Sarah tho'gh stri$ken in years
was yo'ng eno'gh to desire the -leas're o# &otherhood and 4braha& tho'gh gray.
haired was yo'ng eno'gh to wish to be a #ather) 8n an o'tward res-e$t the &ar+el
$onsists in the #a$t that it $a&e to -ass a$$ording to their e/-e$tation in a dee-er
sense the &ira$le o# #aith $onsists in the #a$t that 4braha& and Sarah were yo'ng
eno'gh to wish and that #aith had -reser+ed their wish and therewith their yo'th) :e
a$$e-ted the #'l#il&ent o# the -ro&ise he a$$e-ted it by #aith and it $a&e to -ass
a$$ording to the -ro&ise and a$$ording to his #aith D #or <oses s&ote the ro$k with
his rod b't he did not belie+e)
Then there was >oy in 4braha&=s ho'se when Sarah be$a&e a bride on the day o#
their golden wedding)
2't it was not to re&ain th's) Still on$e &ore 4braha& was to be tried) :e had #o'ght
with that $'nning -ower whi$h in+ents e+erything with that alert ene&y whi$h ne+er
sl'&bers with that old &an who o'tli+es all things D he had #o'ght with Ti&e and
-reser+ed his #aith) %ow all the terror o# the stri#e was $on$entrated in one instant)
1 4nd 9od te&-ted 4braha& and said 'nto hi& Take 8saa$ thine only son who&
tho' lo+est and get thee into the land o# <oriah and o##er hi& there #or a b'rnt
o##ering '-on the &o'ntain whi$h 8 will show thee) 3
So all was lost D &ore dread#'lly than i# it had ne+er $o&e to -ass 5 So the Lord was
only &aking s-ort o# 4braha& 5 :e &ade &ira$'lo'sly the -re-ostero's a$t'al and
now in t'rn :e wo'ld annihilate it) 8t was indeed #oolishness b't 4braha& did not
la'gh at it like Sarah when the -ro&ise was anno'n$ed) 4ll was lost 5 Se+enty years
o# #aith#'l e/-e$tation the brie# >oy at the #'l#il&ent o# #aith) Who then is he that
8
-l'$ks away the old &an=s sta## who is it that re,'ires that he hi&sel# shall break it F
Who is he that wo'ld &ake a &an=s gray hairs $o&#ortless who is it that re,'ires that
he hi&sel# shall do it F 8s there no $o&-assion #or the +enerable oldling none #or the
inno$ent $hild F 4nd yet 4braha& was 9od=s ele$t and it was the Lord who i&-osed
the trial) 4ll wo'ld now be lost) The glorio's &e&ory to be -reser+ed by the h'&an
ra$e the -ro&ise in 4braha&=s seed D this was only a whi& a #leeting tho'ght whi$h
the Lord had had whi$h 4braha& sho'ld now obliterate) That glorio's treas're whi$h
was >'st as old as #aith in 4braha&=s heart &any &any years older than 8saa$ the
#r'it o# 4braha&=s li#e san$ti#ied by -rayers &at'red in $on#li$t D the blessing '-on
4braha&=s li-s this #r'it was now to be -l'$ked -re&at'rely and re&ain witho't
signi#i$an$e) Cor what signi#i$an$e had it when 8saa$ was to be sa$ri#i$ed F That sad
and yet bliss#'l ho'r when 4braha& was to take lea+e o# all that was dear to hi&
when yet on$e &ore he was to li#t '- his head when his $o'ntenan$e wo'ld shine like
that o# the Lord when he wo'ld $on$entrate his whole so'l in a blessing whi$h was
-otent to &ake 8saa$ blessed all his days D this ti&e wo'ld not $o&e 5 Cor he wo'ld
indeed take lea+e o# 8saa$ b't in s'$h a way that he hi&sel# wo'ld re&ain behind 0
death wo'ld se-arate the& b't in s'$h a way that 8saa$ re&ained its -rey) The old
&an wo'ld not be >oy#'l in death as he laid his hands in blessing '-on 8saa$ b't he
wo'ld be weary o# li#e as he laid +iolent hands '-on 8saa$) 4nd it was 9od who tried
hi&) Iea woe woe 'nto the &essenger who had $o&e be#ore 4braha& with s'$h
tidings 5 Who wo'ld ha+e +ent'red to be the e&issary o# this srrow F 2't it was 9od
who tried 4braha&)
Iet 4braha& belie+ed and belie+ed #or this li#e) Iea i# his #aith had been only #or a
#'t're li#e he s'rely wo'ld ha+e $ast e+erything away in order to hasten o't o# this
world to whi$h he did not belong) 2't 4braha&=s #aith was not o# this sort i# there be
s'$h a #aith 0 #or really this is not #aith b't the #'rthest -ossibility o# #aith whi$h has a
-resenti&ent o# its ob>e$t at the e/tre&est li&it o# the hori(on yet is se-arated #ro& it
by a yawning abyss within whi$h des-air $arries on its ga&e) 2't 4braha& belie+ed
-re$isely #or this li#e that he was to grow old in the land honored by the -eo-le
blessed in his generation re&e&bered #ore+er in 8saa$ his dearest thing in li#e who&
he e&bra$ed with a lo+e #or whi$h it wo'ld be a -oor e/-ression to say that he loyally
#'l#illed the #ather=s d'ty o# lo+ing the son as indeed is e+in$ed in the words o# the
s'&&ons 1 the son who& tho' lo+est) 3 Ja$ob had twel+e sons and one o# the& he
lo+ed 0 4braha& had only one the son who& he lo+ed)
Iet 4braha& belie+ed and did not do'bt he belie+ed the -re-ostero's) 8# 4braha&
had do'bted D then he wo'ld ha+e done so&ething else so&ething glorio's 0 #or how
$o'ld 4braha& do anything b't what is great and glorio's 5 :e wo'ld ha+e &ar$hed
'- to <o'nt <oriah he wo'ld ha+e $le#t the #ire.wood lit the -yre drawn the kni#e D
he wo'ld ha+e $ried o't to 9od 1 Des-ise not this sa$ri#i$e it is not the best thing 8
-ossess that 8 know well #or what is an old &an in $o&-arison with the $hild o#
-ro&ise 0 b't it is the best 8 a& able to gi+e Thee) Let 8saa$ ne+er $o&e to know this
that he &ay $onsole hi&sel# with his yo'th) 3 :e wo'ld ha+e -l'nged the kni#e into
his own breast) :e wo'ld ha+e been ad&ired in the world and his na&e wo'ld not
ha+e been #orgotten 0 b't it is one thing to be ad&ired and another to be the g'iding
star whi$h sa+es the ang'ished)
2't 4braha& belie+ed) :e did not -ray #or hi&sel# with the ho-e o# &o+ing the Lord
!
D it was only when the righteo's -'nish&ent was de$reed '-on Sodo& and 9o&orrha
that 4braha& $a&e #orward with his -rayers)
We read in those holy books J 1 4nd 9od te&-ted 4braha& and said 'nto hi&
4braha& 4braha& where art tho' F 4nd he said :ere a& 8) 3 Tho' to who& &y
s-ee$h is addressed was s'$h the $ase with thee F When a#ar o## tho' didst see the
hea+y dis-ensation o# -ro+iden$e a--roa$hing thee didst tho' not say to the
&o'ntains Call on &e and to the hills Ko+er &e F Er i# tho' wast stronger did not
thy #oot &o+e slowly along the way longing as it were #or the old -ath F When a $all
was iss'ed to thee didst tho' answer or didst tho' not answer -erha-s in a low +oi$e
whis-eringly F %ot so 4braha& J >oy#'lly b'oyantly $on#idently with a lo'd +oi$e
he answered 1 :ere a& 8) 3 We read #'rther J 1 4nd 4braha& rose early in the
&orning 3 D as tho'gh it were to a #esti+al so he hastened and early in the &orning
he had $o&e to the -la$e s-oken o# to <o'nt <oriah) :e said nothing to Sarah
nothing to *lea(ar) 8ndeed who $o'ld 'nderstand hi& F :ad not the te&-tation by its
+ery nat're e/a$ted o# hi& an oath o# silen$e F :e $le#t the wood he bo'nd 8saa$ he
lit the -yre he drew the kni#e) <y hearer there was &any a #ather who belie+ed that
with his son he lost e+erything that was dearest to hi& in the world that he was
de-ri+ed o# e+ery ho-e #or the #'t're b't yet there was none that was the $hild o#
-ro&ise in the sense that 8saa$ was #or 4braha&) There was &any a #ather who lost
his $hild 0 b't then it was 9od it was the 'nalterable the 'nsear$hable will o# the
4l&ighty it was :is hand took the $hild) %ot so with 4braha&) Cor hi& was reser+ed
a harder trial and 8saa$=s #ate was laid along with the kni#e in 4braha&=s hand) 4nd
there he stood the old &an with his only ho-e 5 2't he did not do'bt he did not look
an/io'sly to the right or to the le#t he did not $hallenge hea+en with his -rayers) :e
knew that it was 9od the 4l&ighty who was trying hi& he knew that it was the
hardest sa$ri#i$e that $o'ld be re,'ired o# hi& 0 b't he knew also that no sa$ri#i$e was
too hard when 9od re,'ired it D and he drew the kni#e)
Who ga+e strength to 4braha&=s ar& F Who held his right hand '- so that it did not
#all li&- at his side F :e who ga(es at this be$o&es -araly(ed) Who ga+e strength to
4braha&=s so'l so that his eyes did not grow di& so that he saw neither 8saa$ nor the
ra& F :e who ga(es at this be$o&es blind) D 4nd yet rare eno'gh -erha-s is the &an
who be$o&es -araly(ed and blind still &ore rare one who worthily re$o'nts what
ha--ened) We all know it D it was only a trial)
8# 4braha& when he stood '-on <o'nt <oriah had do'bted i# he had ga(ed abo't
hi& irresol'tely i# be#ore he drew the kni#e he had by $han$e dis$o+ered the ra& i#
9od had -er&itted hi& to o##er it instead o# 8saa$ D then he wo'ld ha+e betaken
hi&sel# ho&e e+erything wo'ld ha+e been the sa&e he has Sarah he retained 8saa$
and yet how $hanged 5 Cor his retreat wo'ld ha+e been a #light his sal+ation an
a$$ident his reward dishonor his #'t're -erha-s -erdition) Then he wo'ld ha+e borne
witness neither to his #aith nor to 9od=s gra$e b't wo'ld ha+e tesh#ied only how
dread#'l it is to &ar$h o't to <o'nt <oriah) Then 4braha& wo'ld not ha+e been
#orgotten nor wo'ld <o'nt <oriah this &o'ntain wo'ld then be &entioned not like
4rarat where the 4rk landed b't wo'ld be s-oken o# as a $onsternation be$a'se it
was here that 4braha& do'bted)
Generable Cather 4braha& 5 8n &ar$hing ho&e #ro& <o'nt <oriah tho' hadst no
1L
need o# a -anegyri$ whi$h &ight $onsole thee #or thy loss 0 #or tho' didst gain all and
didst retain 8saa$) Was it not so F %e+er again did the Lord take hi& #ro& thee b't
tho' didst sit at table >oy#'lly with hi& in thy tent as tho' $ost in the beyond to all
eternity) Generable Cather 4braha& 5 Tho'sands o# years ha+e r'n their $o'rse sin$e
those days b't tho' hast need o# no tardy lo+er to snat$h the &e&orial o# thee #ro&
the -ower o# obli+ion #or e+ery lang'age $alls thee to re&e&bran$e D and yet tho'
$ost reward thy lo+er &ore glorio'sly than does any other 0 herea#ter tho' $ost &ake
hi& blessed in thy boso& 0 here tho' $ost enthral his eyes and his heart by the &ar+el
o# thy deed) Generable Cather 4braha& 5 Se$ond Cather o# the h'&an ra$e 5 Tho'
who #irst wast sensible o# and didst #irst bear witness to that -rodigio's -assion whi$h
disdains the dread#'l $on#li$t with the rage o# the ele&ents and with the -owers o#
$reation in order to stri+e with 9od 0 tho' who #irst didst know that highest -assion
the holy -'re and h'&ble e/-ression o# the di+ine &adness whi$h the -agans
ad&ired D #orgi+e hi& who wo'ld s-eak in -raise o# thee i# he does not do it #ittingly)
:e s-oke h'&bly as i# it were the desire o# his own heart he s-oke brie#ly as it
be$o&es hi& to do b't he will ne+er #orget that tho' hadst need o# a h'ndred years to
obtain a son o# old age against e/-e$tation that tho' didst ha+e to draw the kni#e
be#ore retaining 8saa$ 0 he will ne+er #orget that in a h'ndred and thirty years tho'
didst not get #'rther than to #aith)
"roble&ata J
"reli&inary e/-e$toration
4n old -ro+erb #et$hed #ro& the o'tward and +isible world says J 1 Enly the &an that
works gets the bread) 3 Strangely eno'gh this -ro+erb does not a-tly a--ly in that
world to whi$h it e/-ressly belongs) Cor the o'tward world is s'b>e$ted to the law o#
i&-er#e$tion and again and again the e/-erien$e is re-eated that he too who does not
work gets the bread and that he who slee-s gets it &ore ab'ndantly than the &an who
works) 8n the o'tward world e+erything is &ade -ayable to the bearer this world is in
bondage to the law o# indi##eren$e and to hi& who has the ring the s-irit o# the ring
is obedient whether he be %o'reddin or 4laddin and he who has the world=s treas're
has it howe+er he got it) 8t is di##erent in the world o# s-irit) :ere an eternal di+ine
order -re+ails here it does not rain both '-on the >'st and '-on the 'n>'st here the
s'n does not shine both '-on the good and '-on the e+il here it holds good that only
he who works gets the bread only he who was in ang'ish #inds re-ose only he who
des$ends into the 'nderworld res$'es the belo+ed only he who draws the kni#e gets
8saa$) :e who will not work does not get the bread b't re&ains del'ded as the gods
del'ded Er-he's with an airy #ig're in -la$e o# the lo+ed one del'ded hi& be$a'se
he was e##e&inate not $o'rageo's be$a'se he was a $ithara.-layer not a &an) :ere
it is o# no 'se to ha+e 4braha& #or one=s #ather nor to ha+e se+enteen an$estors D he
who will not work &'st take note o# what is written abo't the &aidens o# 8srael #or
he gi+es birth to wind b't he who is willing to work gi+es birth to his own #ather)
11
There is a knowledge whi$h wo'ld -res'&-t'o'sly introd'$e into the world o# s-irit
the sa&e law o# indi##eren$e 'nder whi$h the e/ternal world sighs) 8t $o'nts it eno'gh
to think the great D other work is not ne$essary) 2't there#ore it doesn=t get the bread
it -erishes o# h'nger while e+erything is trans#or&ed into gold) 4nd what does it
really know F There were &any tho'sands o# 9reek $onte&-oraries and $o'ntless
n'&bers in s'bse,'ent generations who knew all the tri'&-hs o# <iltiades b't only
one was &ade slee-less by the&) There were $o'ntless generations whi$h knew by
rote word #or word the story o# 4braha& D how &any were &ade slee-less by it F
%ow the story o# 4braha& has the re&arkable -ro-erty that it is always glorio's
howe+er -oorly one &ay 'nderstand it 0 yet here again the -ro+erb a--lies that all
de-ends '-on whether one is willing to labor and be hea+y laden) 2't they will not
labor and yet they wo'ld 'nderstand the story) They e/alt 4braha& D b't how F They
e/-ress the whole thing in -er#e$tly general ter&s J 1 The great thing was that he
lo+ed 9od so &'$h that he was willing to sa$ri#i$e to :i& the best) 3 That is +ery
tr'e b't 1 the best 3 is an inde#inite e/-ression) 8n the $o'rse o# tho'ght as the
tong'e wags on 8saa$ and 1 the best 3 are $on#idently identi#ied and he who
&editates $an +ery well s&oke his -i-e d'ring the &editation and the a'ditor $an
+ery well stret$h o't his legs in $o&#ort) 8n $ase that ri$h yo'ng &an who& Khrist
en$o'ntered on the road had sold all his goods and gi+en to the -oor we sho'ld e/tol
hi& as we do all that is great tho'gh witho't labor we wo'ld not 'nderstand hi& D
and yet he wo'ld not ha+e be$o&e an 4braha& in s-ite o# the #a$t that he o##ered his
best) What they lea+e o't o# 4braha&=s history is dread 0 #or to &oney 8 ha+e no
ethi$al obligation b't to the son the #ather has the highest and &ost sa$red obligation)
Dread howe+er is a -erilo's thing #or e##e&inate nat'res hen$e they #orget it and in
s-ite o# that they want to talk abo't 4braha&) So they talk D in the $o'rse o# the
oration they 'se indi##erently the two ter&s 8saa$ and 1 the best) 3 4ll goes #a&o'sly)
:owe+er i# it $han$ed that a&ong the a'ditors there was one who s'##ered #ro&
inso&nia D then the &ost dread#'l the -ro#o'ndest tragi$ and $o&i$
&is'nderstanding lies +ery $lose) :e went ho&e he wo'ld do as 4braha& did #or the
son is indeed 1 the best) 3
8# the orator got to know o# it he -erha-s went to hi& he s'&&oned all his $leri$al
dignity he sho'ted 1 E abo&inable &an o##s$o'ring o# so$iety what de+il -ossessed
thee to want to &'rder thy son F 3 4nd the -arson who had not been $ons$io's o#
war&th or -ers-iration in -rea$hing abo't 4braha& is astonished at hi&sel# at the
earnest wrath whi$h he th'ndered down '-on that -oor &an) :e was delighted with
hi&sel# #or he had ne+er s-oken with s'$h +er+e and 'n$tion) :e said to hi&sel# and
to his wi#e 1 8 a& an orator) What 8 la$ked was the o$$asion) When 8 talked abo't
4braha& on S'nday 8 did not #eel &o+ed in the least) 3 8n $ase the sa&e orator had a
little s'-erab'ndan$e o# reason whi$h &ight be lost 8 think he wo'ld ha+e lost it i#
the sinner were to say $al&ly and with dignity 1 That in #a$t is what yo' yo'rsel#
-rea$hed on S'nday) 3 :ow $o'ld the -arson be able to get into his head s'$h a
$onse,'en$e F 4nd yet it was so and the &istake was &erely that he didn=t know
what he was saying) Wo'ld there were a -oet who &ight resol+e to -re#er s'$h
sit'ations rather than the st'## and nonsense with whi$h $o&edies and no+els are
#illed 5 The $o&i$ and the tragi$ here to'$h one another at the absol'te -oint o#
in#inity) The -arson=s s-ee$h was -erha-s in itsel# l'di$ro's eno'gh b't it be$a&e
1@
in#initely l'di$ro's by its e##e$t and yet this $onse,'en$e was ,'ite nat'ral) Er i# the
sinner witho't raising any ob>e$tion were to be $on+erted by the -arson=s se+ere
le$t're i# the (ealo's $lergy&an were to go >oy#'lly ho&e re>oi$ing in the
$ons$io'sness that he not only was e##e$ti+e in the -'l-it b't abo+e all by his
irresistible -ower as a -astor o# so'ls who on S'nday ro'sed the $ongregation to
enth'sias& and on <onday like a $her'b with a #la&ing sword -la$ed hi&sel# be#ore
the &an who by his a$tion wanted to -'t to sha&e the old -ro+erb that 1 things don=t
go on in the world as the -arson -rea$hes) 3M
M8n the old days they said 1 What a -ity things don=t go on in the world as the -arson
-rea$hes 3 D -erha-s the ti&e is $o&ing es-e$ially with the hel- o# -hiloso-hy when
they will say 1 Cort'nately things don=t go on as the -arson -rea$hes 0 #or a#ter all
there is so&e sense in li#e b't none at all in his -rea$hing) 3
8# on the other hand the sinner was not $on+in$ed his sit'ation is -retty tragi$)
"res'&ably he wo'ld be e/e$'ted or sent to the l'nati$ asyl'& in short he wo'ld
ha+e be$o&e 'nha--y in relation to so.$alled reality D in another sense 8 $an well
think that 4braha& &ade hi& ha--y #or he that labors does not -erish)
:ow is one to e/-lain the $ontradi$hon ill'strated by that orator F 8s it be$a'se
4braha& had a -res$ri-ti+e right to be a great &an so that what he did is great and
when another does the sa&e it is sin a heino's sin F 8n that $ase 8 do not wish to
-arti$i-ate in s'$h tho'ghtless e'logy) 8# #aith does not &ake it a holy a$t to be willing
to &'rder one=s son then let the sa&e $onde&nation be -rono'n$ed '-on 4braha& as
'-on e+ery other &an) 8# a &an -erha-s la$ks $o'rage to $arry his tho'ght thro'gh
and to say that 4braha& was a &'rderer then it is s'rely better to a$,'ire this
$o'rage rather than waste ti&e '-on 'ndeser+ed e'logies) The ethi$al e/-ression #or
what 4braha& did is that he wo'ld &'rder 8saa$ 0 the religio's e/-ression is that he
wo'ld sa$ri#i$e 8saa$ 0 b't -re$isely in this $ontradi$tion $onsists the dread whi$h $an
well &ake a &an slee-less and yet 4braha& is not what he is witho't this dread) Er
-erha-s he did not do at all what is related b't so&ething altogether di##erent whi$h
is a$$o'nted #or by the $ir$'&stan$es o# his ti&es D then let 's #orget hi& #or it is not
worth while to re&e&ber that -ast whi$h $annot be$o&e a -resent) Er had -erha-s
that orator #orgotten so&ething whi$h $orres-onds to the ethi$al #orget#'lness o# the
#a$t that 8saa$ was the son F Cor when #aith is eli&inated by be$o&ing n'll or nothing
then there only re&ains the $r'de #a$t that 4braha& wanted to &'rder 8saa$ D whi$h
is easy eno'gh #or anyone to i&itate who has not #aith the #aith that is to say whi$h
&akes it hard #or hi&)
Cor &y -art 8 do not la$k the $o'rage to think a tho'ght whole) :itherto there has
been no tho'ght 8 ha+e been a#raid o# 0 i# 8 sho'ld r'n a$ross s'$h a tho'ght 8 ho-e
that 8 ha+e at least the sin$erity to say 1 8 a& a#raid o# this tho'ght it stirs '-
so&ething else in &e and there#ore 8 will not think it) 8# in this 8 do wrong the
-'nish&ent will not #ail to #ollow) 3 8# 8 had re$ogni(ed that it was the +erdi$t o# tr'th
that 4braha& was a &'rderer 8 do not know whether 8 wo'ld ha+e been able to
silen$e &y -io's +eneration #or hi&) :owe+er i# 8 had tho'ght that 8 -res'&ably
13
wo'ld ha+e ke-t silent abo't it #or one sho'ld not initiate others into s'$h tho'ghts)
2't 4braha& is no da((ling ill'sion he did not slee- into renown it was not a whi&
o# #ate)
Kan one then s-eak -lainly abo't 4braha& witho't in$'rring the danger that an
indi+id'al &ight in bewilder&ent go ahead and do likewise F 8# 8 do not dare to s-eak
#reely 8 will be $o&-letely silent abo't 4braha& abo+e all 8 will not dis-arage hi& in
s'$h a way that -re$isely thereby he be$o&es a -it#all #or the weak) Cor i# one &akes
#aith e+erything that is &akes it what it is then a$$ording to &y way o# thinking
one &ay s-eak o# it witho't danger in o'r age whi$h hardly e/tra+agates in the
&atter o# #aith and it is only by #aith one attains likeness to 4braha& not by &'rder)
8# one &akes lo+e a transitory &ood a +ol'-t'o's e&otion in a &an then one only
lays -it#alls #or the weak when one wo'ld talk abo't the e/-loits o# lo+e) Transient
e&otions e+ery &an s'rely has b't i# as a $onse,'en$e o# s'$h e&otions one wo'ld
do the terrible thing whi$h lo+e has san$ti#ied as an i&&ortal e/-loit then all is lost
in$l'ding the e/-loit and the bewildered doer o# it)
So one s'rely $an talk abo't 4braha& #or the great $an ne+er do har& when it is
a--rehended in its greatness 0 it is like a two.edged sword whi$h slays and sa+es) 8# it
sho'ld #all to &y lot to talk on the s'b>e$t 8 wo'ld begin by showing what a -io's
and 9od.#earing &an 4braha& was worthy to be $alled 9od=s ele$t) Enly '-on s'$h
a &an is i&-osed s'$h a test) 2't where is there s'$h a &an F %e/t 8 wo'ld des$ribe
how 4braha& lo+ed 8saa$) To this end 8 wo'ld -ray all good s-irits to $o&e to &y aid
that &y s-ee$h &ight be as glowing as -aternal lo+e is) 8 ho-e that 8 sho'ld be able to
des$ribe it in s'$h a way that there wo'ld not be &any a #ather in the real&s and
territories o# the King who wo'ld dare to a##ir& that he lo+ed his son in s'$h a way)
2't i# he does not lo+e like 4braha& then e+ery tho'ght o# o##ering 8saa$ wo'ld be
not a trial b't a base te&-tation 6.nfechtung?) En this the&e one $o'ld talk #or se+eral
S'ndays one need be in no haste) The $onse,'en$e wo'ld be that i# one s-oke
rightly so&e #ew o# the #athers wo'ld not re,'ire to hear &ore b't #or the ti&e being
they wo'ld be >oy#'l i# they really s'$$eeded in lo+ing their sons as 4braha& lo+ed) 8#
there was one who a#ter ha+ing heard abo't the greatness b't also abo't the
dread#'lness o# 4braha&=s deed +ent'red to go #orth '-on that road 8 wo'ld saddle
&y horse and ride with hi&) 4t e+ery sto--ing -la$e till we $a&e to <o'nt <oriah 8
wo'ld e/-lain to hi& that he still $o'ld t'rn ba$k $o'ld re-ent the &is'nderstanding
that he was $alled to be tried in s'$h a $on#li$t that he $o'ld $on#ess his la$k o#
$o'rage so that 9od :i&sel# &'st take 8saa$ i# :e wo'ld ha+e hi&) 8t is &y
$on+i$tion that s'$h a &an is not re-'diated b't &ay be$o&e blessed like all the
others) 2't in ti&e he does not be$o&e blessed) Wo'ld they not e+en in the great ages
o# #aith ha+e -assed this >'dg&ent '-on s'$h a &an F 8 knew a -erson who on one
o$$asion $o'ld ha+e sa+ed &y li#e i# he had been &agnani&o's) :e said 1 8 see well
eno'gh what 8 $o'ld do b't 8 do not dare to) 8 a& a#raid that later 8 &ight la$k
strength and that 8 sho'ld regret it) 3 :e was not &agnani&o's b't who #or this $a'se
wo'ld not $ontin'e to lo+e hi& F
:a+ing s-oken th's and &o+ed the a'dien$e so that at least they had sensed the
diale$ti$al $on#li$t o# #aith and its giganti$ -assion 8 wo'ld not gi+e rise to the error
on the -art o# the a'dien$e that 1 he then has #aith in s'$h a high degree that it is
eno'gh #or 's to hold on to his skirts) 3 Cor 8 wo'ld add 1 8 ha+e no #aith at all 8 a&
14
by nat're a shrewd -ate and e+ery s'$h -erson always has great di##i$'lty in &aking
the &o+e&ents o# #aith D not that 8 atta$h howe+er in and #or itsel# an va&ue to this
difficu&t which through the overcoming of it brought the c&ever head further than the
point which the simp&est and most ordinar man reaches more easi&) 3
4#ter all in the -oets lo+e has its -riests and so&eti&es one hears a +oi$e whi$h
knows how to de#end it 0 b't o# #aith one hears ne+er a word) Who s-eaks in honor o#
this -assion F "hiloso-hy goes #'rther) Theology sits ro'ged at the window and $o'rts
its #a+or o##ering to sell her $har&s to -hiloso-hy) 8t is s'--osed to be di##i$'lt to
'nderstand :egel b't to 'nderstand 4braha& is a tri#le) To go beyond :egel is a
&ira$le b't to get beyond 4braha& is the easiest thing o# all) 8 #or &y -art ha+e
de+oted a good deal o# ti&e to the 'nderstanding o# the :egelian -hiloso-hy 8 belie+e
also that 8 'nderstand it tolerably well b't when in s-ite o# the tro'ble 8 ha+e taken
there are $ertain -assages 8 $annot 'nderstand 8 a& #oolhardy eno'gh to think that he
hi&sel# has not been ,'ite $lear) 4ll this 8 do easily and nat'rally &y head does not
s'##er #ro& it) 2't on the other hand when 8 ha+e to think o# 4braha& 8 a& as tho'gh
annihilated) 8 $at$h sight e+ery &o&ent o# that enor&o's -arado/ whi$h is the
s'bstan$e o# 4braha&=s li#e e+ery &o&ent 8 a& re-elled and &y tho'ght in s-ite o#
all its -assion $annot get a hairs.breadth #'rther) 8 strain e+ery &'s$le to get a +iew o#
it D that +ery instant 8 a& -araly(ed)
8 a& not 'na$,'ainted with what has been ad&ired as great and noble in the world
&y so'l #eels a##inity with it being $on+in$ed in all h'&ility that it was in &y $a'se
the hero $ontended and the instant 8 $onte&-late his deed 8 $ry o't to &ysel# %am tua
res agitur) 8 think &ysel# into the hero b't into 4braha& 8 $annot think &ysel# 0 when
8 rea$h the height 8 #all down #or what 8 en$o'nter there is the -arado/) 8 do not
howe+er &ean in any sense to say that #aith is so&ething lowly b't on the $ontrary
that it is the highest thing and that it is dishonest o# -hiloso-hy to gi+e so&ething else
instead o# it and to &ake light o# #aith) "hiloso-hy $annot and sho'ld not gi+e #aith
b't it sho'ld 'nderstand itsel# and know what it has to o##er and take nothing away
and least o# all sho'ld #ool -eo-le o't o# so&ething as i# it were nothing) 8 a& not
'na$,'ainted with the -er-le/ities and dangers o# li#e 8 do not #ear the& and 8
en$o'nter the& b'oyantly) 8 a& not 'na$,'ainted with the dread#'l &y &e&ory is a
#aith#'l wi#e and &y i&agination is (as 8 &ysel# a& not) a diligent little &aiden who
all day sits ,'ietly at her work and in the e+ening knows how to $hat to &e abo't it
so -rettily that 8 &'st look at it tho'gh not always 8 &'st say is it lands$a-es or
#lowers or -astoral idyls she -aints) 8 ha+e seen the dread#'l be#ore &y own eyes 8
do not #lee #ro& it ti&oro'sly b't 8 know +ery well that altho'gh 8 ad+an$e to &eet
it &y $o'rage is not the $o'rage o# #aith nor anything $o&-arable to it) 8 a& 'nable
to &ake the &o+e&ents o# #aith 8 $annot sh't &y eyes and -l'nge $on#idently into
the abs'rd #or &e that is an i&-ossibility ; b't 8 do not boast o# it) 8 a& $on+in$ed
that 9od is lo+e this tho'ght has #or &e a -ri&iti+e lyri$al +alidity) When it is -resent
to &e 8 a& 'ns-eakably bliss#'l when it is absent 8 long #or it &ore +ehe&ently than
does the lo+er #or his ob>e$t 0 b't 8 do not belie+e this $o'rage 8 la$k) Cor &e the lo+e
o# 9od is both in a dire$t and in an in+erse sense in$o&&ens'rable with the whole o#
reality) 8 a& not $owardly eno'gh to whi&-er and $o&-lain b't neither a& 8 de$eit#'l
eno'gh to deny that #aith is so&ething &'$h higher) 8 $an well end're li+ing in &y
way 8 a& >oy#'l and $ontent b't &y >oy is not that o# #aith and in $o&-arison with
1H
that it is 'nha--y) 8 do not tro'ble 9od with &y -etty sorrows the -arti$'lar does not
tro'ble &e 8 ga(e only at &y lo+e and 8 kee- its +irginal #la&e -'re and $lear) Caith
is $on+in$ed that 9od is $on$erned abo't the least things) 8 a& $ontent in this li#e with
being &arried to the le#t hand #aith is h'&ble eno'gh to de&and the right hand D #or
that this is h'&ility 8 do not deny and shall ne+er deny)
2't really is e+eryone in &y generation $a-able o# &aking the &o+e&ents o# #aith 8
wonder F Nnless 8 a& +ery &'$h &istaken this generation is rather in$lined to be
-ro'd o# &aking what they do not e+en belie+e 8 a& $a-able o# &aking +i()
in$o&-lete &o+e&ents) 8t is re-'gnant to &e to do as so o#ten is done na&ely to
s-eak inh'&anly abo't a great deed as tho'gh so&e tho'sands o# years were an
i&&ense distan$e 0 8 wo'ld rather s-eak h'&anly abo't it as tho'gh it had o$$'rred
yesterday letting only the greatness be the distan$e whi$h either e/alts or $onde&ns)
So i# (in the qua&it of a tragic hero #or 8 $an get no higher) 8 had been s'&&oned to
'ndertake s'$h a royal -rogress to <o'nt <oriah 8 know well what 8 wo'ld ha+e
done) 8 wo'ld not ha+e been $owardly eno'gh to stay at ho&e neither wo'ld 8 ha+e
laid down or sa'ntered along the way nor ha+e #orgotten the kni#e so that there &ight
be a little delay D 8 a& -retty well $on+in$ed that 8 wo'ld ha+e been there on the
stroke o# the $lo$k and wo'ld ha+e had e+erything in order -erha-s 8 wo'ld ha+e
arri+ed too early in order to get thro'gh with it sooner) 2't 8 also know what else 8
wo'ld ha+e done) The +ery instant 8 &o'nted the horse 8 wo'ld ha+e said to &ysel#
1 %ow all is lost) 9od re,'ires 8saa$ 8 sa$ri#i$e hi& and with hi& &y >oy D yet 9od
is lo+e and $ontin'es to be that #or &e 0 #or in the te&-oral world 9od and 8 $annot
talk together we ha+e no lang'age in $o&&on) 3 "erha-s one or another in o'r age
will be #oolish eno'gh or en+io's eno'gh o# the great to want to &ake hi&sel# and
&e belie+e that i# 8 really had done this 8 wo'ld ha+e done e+en a greater deed than
4braha& 0 #or &y -rodigio's resignation was #ar &ore ideal and -oeti$ than
4braha&=s narrow.&indedness) 4nd yet this is the greatest #alsehood #or &y
-rodigio's resignation was the s'rrogate #or #aith nor $o'ld 8 do &ore than &ake the
in#inite &o+e&ent in order to #ind &ysel# and again re-ose in &ysel#) 8n that $ase 8
wo'ld not ha+e lo+ed 8saa$ as 4braha& lo+ed) That 8 was resol'te in &aking the
&o+e&ent &ight -ro+e &y $o'rage h'&anly s-eaking 0 that 8 lo+ed hi& with all &y
so'l is the -res'&-tion a-art #ro& whi$h the whole thing be$o&es a $ri&e b't yet 8
did not lo+e like 4braha& #or in that $ase 8 wo'ld ha+e held ba$k e+en at the last
&in'te tho'gh not #or this wo'ld 8 ha+e arri+ed too late at <o'nt <oriah) 2esides
by &y beha+ior 8 wo'ld ha+e s-oiled the whole story 0 #or i# 8 had got 8saa$ ba$k
again 8 wo'ld ha+e been in e&barrass&ent) What 4braha& #o'nd easiest 8 wo'ld
ha+e #o'nd hard na&ely to be >oy#'l again with 8saa$ 0 #or he who with all the in#inity
o# his so'l propio motu et propiis auspiciis 6by his own -ower and on his own
res-onsibility? has -er#or&ed the in#inite &o+e&ent 6o# resignation? and $annot do
&ore only retains 8saa$ with -ain)
2't what did 4braha& do F :e arri+ed neither too soon nor too late) :e &o'nted the
ass he rode slowly along the way) 4ll that ti&e he belie+ed D he belie+ed that 9od
wo'ld not re,'ire 8saa$ o# hi& whereas he was willing ne+ertheless to sa$ri#i$e hi&
i# it was re,'ired) :e belie+ed by +irt'e o# the abs'rd 0 #or there $o'ld be no ,'estion
o# h'&an $al$'lation and it was indeed the abs'rd that 9od who re,'ired it o# hi&
sho'ld the ne/t instant re$all the re,'ire&ent) :e $li&bed the &o'ntain e+en at the
1B
instant when the kni#e glittered he belie+ed ; that 9od wo'ld not re,'ire 8saa$) :e
was indeed astonished at the o't$o&e b't by a do'ble.&o+e&ent he had rea$hed his
#irst -osition and there#ore he re$ei+ed 8saa$ &ore gladly than the #irst ti&e) Let 's
go #'rther) We let 8saa$ be really sa$ri#i$ed) 4braha& belie+ed) :e did not belie+e that
so&e day he wo'ld be blessed in the beyond b't that he wo'ld be ha--y here in the
world) 9od $o'ld gi+e hi& a new 8saa$ $o'ld re$all to li#e hi& who had been
sa$ri#i$ed) :e belie+ed by +irt'e o# the abs'rd 0 #or all h'&an re$koning had long
sin$e $eased to #'n$tion) That sorrow $an derange a &an=s &ind that we see and it is
sad eno'gh) That there is s'$h a thing as strength o# will whi$h is able to ha'l '- so
e/$eedingly $lose to the wind that it sa+es a &an=s reason e+en tho'gh he re&ains a
little ,'eer that too one sees) 8 ha+e no intention o# dis-araging this 0 b't to be able to
lose one=s reason and there#ore the whole o# #initeness o# whi$h reason is the broker
and then by +irt'e o# the abs'rd to gain -re$isely the sa&e #initeness D that a--alls &y
so'l b't 8 do not #or this $a'se say that it is so&ething lowly sin$e on the $ontrary it
is the only -rodigy) 9enerally -eo-le are o# the o-inion that what #aith -rod'$es is not
a work o# art that it is $oarse and $o&&on work only #or the &ore $l'&sy nat'res 0
b't in #a$t this is #ar #ro& the tr'th) The diale$ti$ o# #aith is the #inest and &ost
re&arkable o# all 0 it -ossesses an ele+ation o# whi$h indeed 8 $an #or& a $on$e-tion
b't nothing &ore) 8 a& able to &ake #ro& the s-ringboard the great lea- whereby 8
-ass into in#inity &y ba$k is like that o# a tight.ro-e dan$er ha+ing been twisted in
&y $hildhood hen$e 8 #ind this easy 0 with a one.two.three 5 8 $an walk abo't
e/isten$e on &y head 0 b't the ne/t thing 8 $annot do #or 8 $annot -er#or& the
&ira$'lo's b't $an only be astonished by it) Ies i# 4braha& the instant he sw'ng his
leg o+er the ass=s ba$k had said to hi&sel# 1 %ow sin$e 8saa$ is lost 8 &ight >'st as
well sa$ri#i$e hi& here at ho&e rather than ride the long way to <oriah 3 D then 8
sho'ld ha+e no need o# 4braha& whereas now 8 bow se+en ti&es be#ore his na&e
and se+enty ti&es be#ore his deed) Cor this indeed he did not do as 8 $an -ro+e by the
#a$t that he was glad at re$ei+ing 8saa$ heartily glad that he needed no -re-aration
no ti&e to $on$entrate '-on the #inite and its >oy) 8# this had not been the $ase with
4braha& then -erha-s he &ight ha+e lo+ed 9od b't not belie+ed 0 #or he who lo+es
9od witho't #aith re#le$ts '-on hi&sel# he who lo+es 9od belie+ingly re#le$ts '-on
9od)
N-on this -inna$le stands 4braha&) The last stage he loses sight o# is the in#inite
resignation) :e really goes #'rther and rea$hes #aith 0 #or all these $ari$at'res o# #aith
the &iserable l'kewar& indolen$e whi$h thinks 1 There s'rely is no instant need it is
not worth while sorrowing be#ore the ti&e 3 the -iti#'l ho-e whi$h says 1 Ene
$annot know what is going to ha--en ; it &ight -ossibly be a#ter all 3 D these
$ari$at'res o# #aith are -art and -ar$el o# li#e=s wret$hedness and the in#inite
resignation has already $onsigned the& to in#inite $onte&-t)
4braha& 8 $annot 'nderstand in a $ertain sense there is nothing 8 $an learn #ro& hi&
b't astonish&ent) 8# -eo-le #an$y that by $onsidering the o't$o&e o# this story they
&ight let the&sel+es be &o+ed to belie+e they de$ei+e the&sel+es and want to
swindle 9od o't o# the #irst &o+e&ent o# #aith the in#inite resignation) They wo'ld
s'$k worldly wisdo& o't o# the -arado/) "erha-s one or another &ay s'$$eed in that
#or o'r age is not willing to sto- with #aith with its &ira$le o# t'rning water into
wine it goes #'rther it t'rns wine into water)
1A
Wo'ld it not be better to sto- with #aith and is it not re+olting that e+erybody wants
to go #'rther F When in o'r age (as indeed is -ro$lai&ed in +ario's ways) they will
not sto- with lo+e where then are they going F To earthy wisdo& to -etty
$al$'lation to -altriness and wret$hedness to e+erything whi$h $an &ake &an=s
di+ine origin do'bt#'l) Wo'ld it not be better that they sho'ld stand still at #aith and
that he who stands sho'ld take heed lest he #all F Cor the &o+e&ents o# #aith &'st
$onstantly be &ade by +irt'e o# the abs'rd yet in s'$h a way be it obser+ed that one
does not lose the #inite b't gains it e+ery in$h) Cor &y -art 8 $an well des$ribe the
&o+e&ents o# #aith b't 8 $annot &ake the&) When one wo'ld learn to &ake the
&otions o# swi&&ing one $an let onesel# be h'ng by a swi&&ing.belt #ro& the
$eiling and go thro'gh the &otions (des$ribe the& so to s-eak as we s-eak o#
des$ribing a $ir$le) b't one is not swi&&ing) 8n that way 8 $an des$ribe the
&o+e&ents o# #aith b't when 8 a& thrown into the water 8 swi& it is tr'e (#or 8 don=t
belong to the bea$h.waders) b't 8 &ake other &o+e&ents 8 &ake the &o+e&ents o#
in#inity whereas #aith does the o--osite J a#ter ha+ing &ade the &o+e&ents o#
in#inity it &akes those o# #initeness) :ail to hi& who $an &ake those &o+e&ents he
-er#or&s the &ar+ello's and 8 shall ne+er grow tired o# ad&iring hi& whether he be
4braha& or a sla+e in 4braha&=s ho'se 0 whether he be a -ro#essor o# -hiloso-hy or a
ser+ant.girl 8 look only at the &o+e&ents) 2't at the& 8 do look and do not let
&ysel# be #ooled either by &ysel# or by any other &an) The knights o# the in#inite
resignation are easily re$ogni(ed J their gait is gliding and ass'red) Those on the other
hand who $arry the >ewel o# #aith are likely to be del'si+e be$a'se their o'tward
a--earan$e bears a striking rese&blan$e to that whi$h both the in#inite resignation and
#aith -ro#o'ndly des-ise ; to "hilistinis&)
8 $andidly ad&it that in &y -ra$ti$e 8 ha+e not #o'nd any reliable e/a&-le o# the
knight o# #aith tho'gh 8 wo'ld not there#ore deny that e+ery se$ond &an &ay be s'$h
an e/a&-le) 8 ha+e been trying howe+er #or se+eral years to get on the tra$k o# this
and all in +ain) "eo-le $o&&only tra+el aro'nd the world to see ri+ers and &o'ntains
new stars birds o# rare -l'&age ,'eerly de#or&ed #ishes ridi$'lo's breeds o# &en D
they abandon the&sel+es to the bestial st'-or whi$h ga-es at e/isten$e and they think
they ha+e seen so&ething) This does not interest &e) 2't i# 8 knew where there was
s'$h a knight o# #aith 8 wo'ld &ake a -ilgri&age to hi& on #oot #or this -rodigy
interests &e absol'tely) 8 wo'ld not let go o# hi& #or an instant e+ery &o&ent 8
wo'ld wat$h to see how he &anaged to &ake the &o+e&ents 8 wo'ld regard &ysel#
as se$'red #or li#e and wo'ld di+ide &y ti&e between looking at hi& and -ra$ti$ing
the e/er$ises &ysel# and th's wo'ld s-end all &y ti&e ad&iring hi&) 4s was said 8
ha+e not #o'nd any s'$h -erson b't 8 $an well think hi&) :ere he is) 4$,'aintan$e
&ade 8 a& introd'$ed to hi&) The &o&ent 8 set eyes on hi& 8 instantly -'sh hi&
#ro& &e 8 &ysel# lea- ba$kwards 8 $las- &y hands and say hal# alo'd 1 9ood Lord
is this the &an F 8s it really he F Why he looks like a ta/.$olle$tor 5 3 :owe+er it is
the &an a#ter all) 8 draw $loser to hi& wat$hing his least &o+e&ents to see whether
there &ight not be +isible a little heterogeneo's #ra$tional telegra-hi$ &essage #ro&
the in#inite a glan$e a look a gest're a note o# sadness a s&ile whi$h betrayed the
in#inite in its heterogeneity with the #inite) %o 5 8 e/a&ine his #ig're #ro& ti- to toe to
see i# there &ight not be a $ranny thro'gh whi$h the in#inite was -ee-ing) %o 5 :e is
solid thro'gh and thro'gh) :is tread F 8t is +igoro's belongingentirely to #initeness 0
18
no s&artly dressed towns&an who walkso't to Cresberg on a S'nday a#ternoon treads
the gro'nd &ore #ir&ly he belongs entirely to the world no "hilistine &ore so) Ene
$an dis$o+er nothing o# that aloo# and s'-erior nat're whereby one re$ogni(es the
knight o# the in#inite) :e takes delight in e+erything and whene+er one sees hi&
taking -art in a -arti$'lar -leas're he does it with the -ersisten$e whi$h is the &ark
o# the earthly &an whose so'l is absorbed in s'$h things) :e tends to his work) So
when one looks at hi& one &ight s'--ose that he was a $lerk who had lost his so'l in
an intri$ate syste& o# book.kee-ing so -re$ise is he) :e takes a holiday on S'nday)
:e goes to $h'r$h) %o hea+enly glan$e or any other token o# the in$o&&ens'rable
betrays hi& 0 i# one did not know hi& it wo'ld be i&-ossible to disting'ish hi& #ro&
the rest o# the $ongregation #or his healthy and +igoro's hy&n.singing -ro+es at the
&ost that he has a good $hest) 8n the a#ternoon he walks to the #orest) :e takes delight
in e+erything he sees in the h'&an swar& in the new o&nib'ses in the water o# the
So'nd 0 when one &eets hi& on the 2ea$h 7oad one &ight s'--ose he was a
sho-kee-er taking his #ling that=s >'st the way he dis-orts hi&sel# #or he is not a
-oet and 8 ha+e so'ght in +ain to dete$t in hi& the -oeti$ in$o&&ens'rability)
Toward e+ening he walks ho&e his gait is as inde#atigable as that o# the -ost&an) En
his way he re#le$ts that his wi#e has s'rely a s-e$ial little war& dish -re-ared #or hi&
e)g) a $al#=s head roasted garnished with +egetables) 8# he were to &eet a &an like.
&inded he $o'ld $ontin'e as #ar as *ast 9ate to dis$o'rse with hi& abo't that dish
with a -assion be#itting a hotel $he#) 4s it ha--ens he hasn=t #o'r -en$e to his na&e
and yet he #'lly and #ir&ly belie+es that his wi#e has that dainty dish #or hi&) 8# she
had it it wo'ld then be an in+idio's sight #or s'-erior -eo-le and an ins-iring one #or
the -lain &an to see hi& eat 0 #or his a--etite is greater than *sa'=s) :is wi#e hasn=t it
D strangely eno'gh it is ,'ite the sa&e to hi&) En the way he $o&es -ast a b'ilding
site and r'ns a$ross another &an) They talk together #or a &o&ent) 8n the twinkling o#
an eye he ere$ts a new b'ilding he has at his dis-osition all the -owers ne$essary #or
it) The stranger lea+es hi& with the tho'ght that he $ertainly was a $a-italist while
&y ad&ired knight thinks 1 Ies i# the &oney were needed 8 dare say 8 $o'ld get it) 3
:e lo'nges at an o-en window and looks o't on the s,'are on whi$h he li+es 0 he is
interested in e+erything that goes on in a rat whi$h sli-s 'nder the $'rb in the
$hildren=s -lay and this with the non$halan$e o# a girl o# si/teen) 4nd yet he is no
geni's #or in +ain 8 ha+e so'ght in hi& the in$o&&ens'rability o# geni's) 8n the
e+ening he s&okes his -i-e 0 to look at hi& one wo'ld swear that it was the gro$er
o+er the way +egetating in the twilight) :e li+es as $are#ree as a ne=er.do.well and
yet he b'ys '- the a$$e-table ti&e at the dearest -ri$e #or he does not do the least
thing e/$e-t by +irt'e o# the abs'rd) 4nd yet and yet D a$t'ally 8 $o'ld be$o&e
#'rio's o+er it #or en+y i# #or no other reason D this &an has &ade and e+ery instant
is &aking the &o+e&ents o# in#inity) With in#inite resignation he has drained the $'-
o# li#e=s -ro#o'nd sadness he knows the bliss o# the in#inite he senses the -ain o#
reno'n$ing e+erything the dearest things he -ossesses in the world and yet #initeness
tastes to hi& >'st as good as to one who ne+er knew anything higher #or his
$ontin'an$e in the #inite did not bear a tra$e o# the $owed and #ear#'l s-irit -rod'$ed
by the -ro$ess o# training 0 and yet he has this sense o# se$'rity in en>oying it as
tho'gh the #inite li#e were the s'rest thing o# all) 4nd yet and yet the whole earthly
#or& he e/hibits is a new $reation by +irt'e o# the abs'rd) :e resigned e+erything
in#initely and then he gras-ed e+erything again by +irt'e o# the abs'rd) :e $onstantly
1!
&akes the &o+e&ents o# in#inity b't he does this with s'$h $orre$tness and ass'ran$e
that he $onstantly gets the #inite o't o# it and there is not a se$ond when one has a
notion o# anything else) 8t is s'--osed to be the &ost di##i$'lt task #or a dan$er to lea-
into a de#inite -ost're in s'$h a way that there is not a se$ond when he is gras-ing
a#ter the -ost're b't by the lea- itsel# he stands #i/ed in that -ost're) "erha-s no
dan$er $an do it D that is what this knight does) <ost -eo-le li+e de>e$tedly in worldly
sorrow and >oy 0 they are the ones who sit along the wall and do not >oin in the dan$e)
The knights o# in#inity are dan$ers and -ossess ele+ation) They &ake the &o+e&ents
'-ward and #all down again 0 and this too is no &ean -asti&e nor 'ngra$e#'l to
behold) 2't whene+er they #all down they are not able at on$e to ass'&e the -ost're
they +a$illate an instant and this +a$illation shows that a#ter all they are strangers in
the world) This is &ore or less strikingly e+ident in -ro-ortion to the art they -ossess
b't e+en the &ost artisti$ knights $annot altogether $on$eal this +a$illation) Ene need
not look at the& when they are '- in the air b't only the instant they to'$h or ha+e
to'$hed the gro'nd D then one re$ogni(es the&) 2't to be able to #all down in s'$h a
way that the sa&e se$ond it looks as i# one were standing and walking to trans#or&
the lea- o# li#e into a walk absol'tely to e/-ress the s'bli&e in the -edestrian D that
only the knight o# #aith $an do D and this is the one and only -rodigy)
2't sin$e the -rodigy is so likely to be del'si+e 8 will des$ribe the &o+e&ents in a
de#inite instan$e whi$h will ser+e to ill'strate their relation to reality #or '-on this
e+erything t'rns) 4 yo'ng swain #alls in lo+e with a -rin$ess and the whole $ontent o#
his li#e $onsists in this lo+e and yet the sit'ation is s'$h that it is i&-ossible #or it to
be reali(ed i&-ossible #or it to be translated #ro& ideality into reality)M
ME# $o'rse any other instan$e whatsoe+er in whi$h the indi+id'al #inds that #or hi&
the whole reality o# a$t'al e/isten$e is $on$entrated &ay when it is seen to be
'nreali(able be an o$$asion #or the &o+e&ent o# resignation) :owe+er 8 ha+e $hosen
a lo+e e/-erien$e to &ake the &o+e&ent +isible be$a'se this interest is do'btless
easier to 'nderstand and so relie+es &e #ro& the ne$essity o# &aking -reli&inary
obser+ations whi$h in a dee-er sense $o'ld be o# interest only to a #ew)
The sla+es o# -altriness the #rogs in li#e=s swa&- will nat'rally $ry o't 1 S'$h a
lo+e is #oolishness) The ri$h brewer=s widow is a &at$h #'lly as good and
res-e$table) 3 Let the& $roak in the swa&- 'ndist'rbed) 8t is not so with the knight o#
in#inite resignation he does not gi+e '- his lo+e not #or all the glory o# the world) :e
is no #ool) Cirst he &akes s're that this really is the $ontent o# his li#e and his so'l is
too healthy and too -ro'd to s,'ander the least thing '-on an inebriation) :e is not
$owardly he is not a#raid o# letting lo+e $ree- into his &ost se$ret his &ost hidden
tho'ghts to let it twine in inn'&erable $oils abo't e+ery liga&ent o# his
$ons$io'sness D i# the lo+e be$o&es an 'nha--y lo+e he will ne+er be able to tear
hi&sel# loose #ro& it) :e #eels a bliss#'l ra-t're in letting lo+e tingle thro'gh e+ery
ner+e and yet his so'l is as sole&n as that o# the &an who has drained the -oisoned
goblet and #eels how the >'i$e -er&eates e+ery dro- o# blood D #or this instant is li#e
and death) So when he has th's s'$ked into hi&sel# the whole o# lo+e and absorbed
hi&sel# in it he does not la$k $o'rage to &ake trial o# e+erything and to +ent're
@L
e+erything) :e s'r+eys the sit'ation o# his li#e he $on+okes the swi#t tho'ghts whi$h
like ta&e do+es obey his e+ery bidding he wa+es his wand o+er the& and they dart
o## in all dire$tions) 2't when they all ret'rn all as &essengers o# sorrow and de$lare
to hi& that it is an i&-ossibility then he be$o&es ,'iet he dis&isses the& he
re&ains alone and then he -er#or&s the &o+e&ents) 8# what 8 a& saying is to ha+e
any signi#i$an$e it is re,'isite that the &o+e&ent $o&e abo't nor&ally)M
MTo this end passion is necessar. 0ver movement of infinit comes about b passion,
and no ref&ection can bring a movement about. This is the continua& &eap in e*istence
which e*p&ains the movement, whereas mediation is a chimera which according to
"ege& is supposed to e*p&ain everthing, and at the same time this is the on& thing he
has never tried to e*p&ain. *+en to &ake the well.known So$rati$ distin$tion between
what one 'nderstands and what one does not 'nderstand -assion is re,'ired and o#
$o'rse e+en &ore to &ake the $hara$teristi$ So$rati$ &o+e&ent the &o+e&ent
na&ely o# ignoran$e) What o'r age la$ks howe+er is not re#le$tion b't -assion)
:en$e in a sense o'r age is too tena$io's o# li#e to die #or dying is one o# the &ost
re&arkable lea-s and a little +erse o# a -oet has always attra$ted &e &'$h be$a'se
a#ter ha+ing e/-ressed -rettily and si&-ly in #i+e or si/ -re$eding lines his wish #or
good things in li#e he $on$l'des th's J
0in se&iger Sprung in die 0wigkeit.
So #or the #irst thing the knight will ha+e -ower to $on$entrate the whole $ontent o#
li#e and the whole signi#i$an$e o# reality in one single wish) 8# a &an la$ks this
$on$entration this intensity i# his so'l #ro& the beginning is dis-ersed in the
&'lti#ario's he ne+er $o&es to the -oint o# &aking the &o+e&ent he will deal
shrewdly in li#e like the $a-italists who in+est their &oney in all sorts o# se$'rities so
as to gain on the one what they lose on the other D in short he is not a knight) 8n the
ne/t -la$e the knight will ha+e the -ower to $on$entrate the whole res'lt o# the
o-erations o# tho'ght in one a$t o# $ons$io'sness) 8# he la$ks this intensity i# his so'l
#ro& the beginning is dis-ersed in the &'lti#ario's he will ne+er get ti&e to &ake the
&o+e&ents he will be $onstantly r'nning errands in li#e ne+er enter into eternity #or
e+en at the instant when he is $losest to it he will s'ddenly dis$o+er that he has
#orgotten so&ething #or whi$h he &'st go ba$k) :e will think that to enter eternity is
-ossible the ne/t instant and that also is -er#e$tly tr'e b't by s'$h $onsiderations one
ne+er rea$hes the -oint o# &aking the &o+e&ents b't by their aid one sinks dee-er
and dee-er into the &ire)
So the knight &akes the &o+e&ent D b't what &o+e&ent F Will he #orget the whole
thing F (Cor in this too there is indeed a kind o# $on$entration)) %o 5 Cor the knight
does not $ontradi$t hi&sel# and it is a $ontradi$tion to #orget the whole $ontent o#
one=s li#e and yet re&ain the sa&e &an) To be$o&e another &an he #eels no
in$lination nor does he by any &eans regard this as greatness) Enly the lower nat'res
#orget the&sel+es and be$o&e so&ething new) Th's the b'tter#ly has entirely
#orgotten that it was a $ater-illar -erha-s it &ay in t'rn so entirely #orget it was a
b'tter#ly that it be$o&es a #ish) The dee-er nat'res ne+er #orget the&sel+es and ne+er
@1
be$o&e anything else than what they were) So the knight re&e&bers e+erything b't
-re$isely this re&e&bran$e is -ain and yet by the in#inite resignation he is re$on$iled
with e/isten$e) Lo+e #or that -rin$ess be$a&e #or hi& the e/-ression #or an eternal
lo+e ass'&ed a religio's $hara$ter was trans#ig'red into a lo+e #or the *ternal 2eing
whi$h did to be s're deny hi& the #'l#il&ent o# his lo+e yet re$on$iled hi& again by
the eternal $ons$io'sness o# its +alidity in the #or& o# eternity whi$h no reality $an
take #ro& hi&) Cools and yo'ng &en -rate abo't e+erything being -ossible #or a &an)
That howe+er is a great error) S-irit'ally s-eaking e+erything is -ossible b't in the
world o# the #inite there is &'$h whi$h is not -ossible) This i&-ossible howe+er the
knight &akes -ossible by e/-ressing it s-irit'ally b't he e/-resses it s-irit'ally by
wai+ing his $lai& to it) The wish whi$h wo'ld $arry hi& o't into reality b't was
wre$ked '-on the i&-ossibility is now bent inward b't it is not there#ore lost neither
is it #orgotten) 4t one &o&ent it is the obs$'re e&otion o# the wish within hi& whi$h
awakens re$olle$tions at another &o&ent he awakens the& hi&sel# 0 #or he is too
-ro'd to be willing that what was the whole $ontent o# his li#e sho'ld be the thing o# a
#leeting &o&ent) :e kee-s this lo+e yo'ng and along with hi& it in$reases in years
and in bea'ty) En the other hand he has no need o# the inter+ention o# the #inite #or
the #'rther growth o# his lo+e) Cro& the instant he &ade the &o+e&ent the -rin$ess is
lost to hi&) :e has no need o# those eroti$ tinglings in the ner+es at the sight o# the
belo+ed et$) nor does he need to be $onstantly taking lea+e o# her in a #inite sense
be$a'se he re$olle$ts her in an eternal sense and he knows +ery well that the lo+ers
who are so bent '-on seeing 1 her 3 yet on$e again to say #are#ell #or the last ti&e
are right in being bent '-on it are right in thinking that it is the last ti&e #or they
#orget one another the soonest) :e has $o&-rehended the dee- se$ret that also in
lo+ing another -erson one &'st be s'##i$i$'t 'nto onesel#) :e no longer takes a #inite
interest in what the -rin$ess is doing and -re$isely this is -roo# that he has &ade the
&o+e&ent in#initely) :ere one &ay ha+e an o--ort'nity to see whether the &o+e&ent
on the -art o# a -arti$'lar -erson is tr'e or #i$titio's) There was one who also belie+ed
that he had &ade the &o+e&ent 0 b't lo ti&e -assed the -rin$ess did so&ething else
she &arried D a -rin$e let 's say D then his so'l lost the elasti$ity o# resignation)
Thereby he knew that he had not &ade the &o+e&ent rightly 0 #or he who has &ade
the a$t o# resignation in#initely is s'##i$ient 'nto hi&sel#) The knight does not ann'l
his resignation he -reser+es his lo+e >'st as yo'ng as it was in its #irst &o&ent he
ne+er lets it go #ro& hi& -re$isely be$a'se he &akes the &o+e&ents in#initely) What
the -rin$ess does $annot dist'rb hi& it is only the lower nat'res whi$h #ind in other
-eo-le the law #or their a$tions whi$h #ind the -re&ises #or their a$tions o'tside
the&sel+es) 8# on the other hand the -rin$ess is like.&inded the bea'ti#'l
$onse,'en$e will be a--arent) She will introd'$e hersel# into that order o# knighthood
into whi$h one is not re$ei+ed by balloting b't o# whi$h e+eryone is a &e&ber who
has $o'rage to introd'$e hi&sel# that order o# knighthood whi$h -ro+es its
i&&ortality by the #a$t that it &akes no distin$tion between &an and wo&an) The two
will -reser+e their lo+e yo'ng and so'nd she also will ha+e tri'&-hed o+er her -ains
e+en tho'gh she does not as it is said in the ballad 1 lie e+ery night beside her lord) 3
These two will to all eternity re&ain in agree&ent with one another with a well.ti&ed
harmonia praestabi&ita so that i# e+er the &o&ent were to $o&e the &o&ent whi$h
does not howe+er $on$ern the& #initely (#or then they wo'ld be growing older) i#
e+er the &o&ent were to $o&e whi$h o##ered to gi+e lo+e its e/-ression in ti&e then
@@
they will be $a-able o# beginning -re$isely at the -oint where they wo'ld ha+e beg'n
i# originally they had been 'nited) :e who 'nderstands this be he &an or wo&an $an
ne+er be de$ei+ed #or it is only the lower nat'res whi$h i&agine they were de$ei+ed)
%o girl who is not so -ro'd really knows how to lo+e 0 b't i# she is so -ro'd then the
$'nning and shrewdness o# all the world $annot de$ei+e her)
8n the in#inite resignation there is -ea$e and rest 0 e+ery &an who wills it who has not
abased hi&sel# by s$orning hi&sel# (whi$h is still &ore dread#'l than being -ro'd)
$an train hi&sel# to &ake this &o+e&ent whi$h in its -ain re$on$iles one with
e/isten$e) 8n#inite resignation is that shirt we read abo't in the old #able) The thread is
s-'n 'nder tears the $loth blea$hed with tears the shirt sewn with tears 0 b't then too
it is a better -rote$tion than iron and steel) The i&-er#e$tion in the #able is that a third
-arty $an &an'#a$t're this shirt) The se$ret in li#e is that e+eryone &'st sew it #or
hi&sel# and the astonishing thing is that a &an $an sew it #'lly as well as a wo&an) 8n
the in#inite resignation there is -ea$e and rest and $o&#ort in sorrow D that is i# the
&o+e&ent is &ade nor&ally) 8t wo'ld not be di##i$'lt #or &e howe+er to write a
whole book were 8 to e/a&ine the +ario's &is'nderstandings the -re-ostero's
attit'des the de$e-ti+e &o+e&ents whi$h 8 ha+e en$o'ntered in &y brie# -ra$ti$e)
"eo-le belie+e +ery little in s-irit and yet &aking this &o+e&ent de-ends '-on s-irit
it de-ends '-on whether this is or is not a one.sided res'lt o# a dira necessitas and i#
this is -resent the &ore d'bio's it always is whether the &o+e&ent is nor&al) 8# one
&eans by this that the $old 'n#r'it#'l ne$essity &'st ne$essarily be -resent one
thereby a##ir&s that no one $an e/-erien$e death be#ore he a$t'ally dies and that
a--ears to &e a $rass &aterialis&) :owe+er in o'r ti&e -eo-le $on$ern the&sel+es
rather little abo't &aking -'re &o+e&ents) 8n $ase one who was abo't to learn to
dan$e were to say 1 Cor $ent'ries now one generation a#ter another has been learning
-ositions it is high ti&e 8 drew so&e ad+antage o't o# this and began straightway
with the Cren$h dan$es 3 D then -eo-le wo'ld la'gh at hi& 0 b't in the world o# s-irit
they #ind this e/$eedingly -la'sible) What is ed'$ation F 8 sho'ld s'--ose that
ed'$ation was the $'rri$'l'& one had to r'n thro'gh in order to $at$h '- with onesel#
and he who will not -ass thro'gh this $'rri$'l'& is hel-ed +ery little by the #a$t that
he was born in the &ost enlightened age)
The in#inite resignation is the last stage -rior to #aith so that one who has not &ade
this &o+e&ent has not #aith 0 #or only in the in#inite resignation do 8 be$o&e $lear to
&ysel# with res-e$t to &y eternal +alidity and only then $an there be any ,'estion o#
gras-ing e/isten$e by +irt'e o# #aith)
%ow we will let the knight o# #aith a--ear in the role >'st des$ribed) :e &akes e/a$tly
the sa&e &o+e&ents as the other knight in#initely reno'n$es $lai& to the lo+e whi$h
is the $ontent o# his li#e he is re$on$iled in -ain 0 b't then o$$'rs the -rodigy he
&akes still another &o+e&ent &ore wonder#'l than all #or he says 1 8 belie+e
ne+ertheless that 8 shall get her in +irt'e that is o# the abs'rd in +irt'e o# the #a$t
that with 9od all things are -ossible) 3 The abs'rd is not one o# the #a$tors whi$h $an
be dis$ri&inated within the -ro-er $o&-ass o# the 'nderstanding J it is not identi$al
with the i&-robable the 'ne/-e$ted the 'n#oreseen) 4t the &o&ent when the knight
&ade the a$t o# resignation he was $on+in$ed h'&anly s-eaking o# the i&-ossibility)
This was the res'lt rea$hed by the 'nderstanding and he had s'##i$ient energy to
think it) En the other hand in an in#inite sense it was -ossible na&ely by reno'n$ing
@3
it 0 b't this sort o# -ossessing is at the sa&e ti&e a relin,'ishing and yet there is no
abs'rdity in this #or the 'nderstanding #or the 'nderstanding $ontin'ed to be in the
right in a##ir&ing that in the world o# the #inite where it holds sway this was and
re&ained an i&-ossibility) This is ,'ite as $lear to the knight o# #aith so the only
thing that $an sa+e hi& is the abs'rd and this he gras-s by #aith) So he re$ogni(es the
i&-ossibility and that +ery instant he belie+es the abs'rd 0 #or i# witho't re$ogni(ing
the i&-ossibility with all the -assion o# his so'l and with all his heart he sho'ld wish
to i&agine that he has #aith he de$ei+es hi&sel# and his testi&ony has no bearing
sin$e he has not e+en rea$hed the in#inite resignation)
Caith there#ore is not an aestheti$ e&otion b't so&ething #ar higher -re$isely be$a'se
it has resignation as its -res'--osition 0 it is not an i&&ediate instin$t o# the heart b't
is the -arado/ o# li#e and e/isten$e) So when in s-ite o# all di##i$'lties a yo'ng girl
still re&ains $on+in$ed that her wish will s'rely be #'l#illed this $on+i$tion is not the
ass'ran$e o# #aith e+en i# she was bro'ght '- by Khristian -arents and #or a whole
year -erha-s has been $ate$hi(ed by the -arson) She is $on+in$ed in all her $hildish
naO+etP and inno$en$e this $on+i$tion also ennobles her nat're and i&-arts to her a
-reternat'ral greatness so that like a tha'&at'rge she is able to $on>'re the #inite
-owers o# e/isten$e and &ake the +ery stones wee- while on the other hand in her
#l'rry she &ay >'st as well r'n to :erod as to "ilate and &o+e the whole world by her
tears) :er $on+i$hon is +ery lo+able and one $an learn &'$h #ro& her b't one thing
is not to be learned #ro& her one does not learn the &o+e&ents #or her $on+i$tion
does not dare in the -ain o# resignation to #a$e the i&-ossibility)
So 8 $an -er$ei+e that it re,'ires strength and energy and #reedo& o# s-irit to &ake
the in#inite &o+e&ent o# resignation 8 $an also -er$ei+e that it is #easible) 2't the
ne/t thing astonishes &e it &akes &y head swi& #or a#ter ha+ing &ade the
&o+e&ent o# resignation then by +irt'e o# the abs'rd to get e+erything to get the
wish whole and 'n$'rtailed D that is beyond h'&an -ower it is a -rodigy) 2't this 8
$an -er$ei+e that the yo'ng girl=s $on+i$tion is &ere le+ity in $o&-arison with the
#ir&ness #aith dis-lays notwithstanding it has -er$ei+ed the i&-ossibility) Whene+er 8
essay to &ake this &o+e&ent 8 t'rn giddy the +ery instant 8 a& ad&iring it
absol'tely a -rodigio's dread gri-s &y so'l D #or what is it to te&-t 9od F 4nd yet
this &o+e&ent is the &o+e&ent o# #aith and re&ains s'$h e+en tho'gh -hiloso-hy in
order to $on#'se the $on$e-ts wo'ld &ake 's belie+e that it has #aith and e+en
tho'gh theology wo'ld sell o't #aith at a bargain -ri$e)
Cor the a$t o# resignation #aith is not re,'ired #or what 8 gain by resignation is &y
eternal $ons$io'sness and this is a -'rely -hiloso-hi$al &o+e&ent whi$h 8 dare say 8
a& able to &ake i# it is re,'ired and whi$h 8 $an train &ysel# to &ake #or whene+er
any #initeness wo'ld get the &astery o+er &e 8 star+e &ysel# 'ntil 8 $an &ake the
&o+e&ent #or &y eternal $ons$io'sness is &y lo+e to 9od and #or &e this is higher
than e+erything) Cor the a$t o# resignation #aith is not re,'ired b't it is needed when
it is the $ase o# a$,'iring the +ery least thing &ore than &y eternal $ons$io'sness #or
this is the -arado/i$al) The &o+e&ents are #re,'ently $on#o'nded #or it is said that
one needs #aith to reno'n$e the $lai& to e+erything yea a stranger thing than this
&ay be heard when a &an la&ents the loss o# his #aith and when one looks at the
s$ale to see where he is one sees strangely eno'gh that he has only rea$hed the -oint
where he sho'ld &ake the in#inite &o+e&ent o# resignation) 8n resignation 8 &ake
@4
ren'n$iation o# e+erything this &o+e&ent 8 &ake by &ysel# and i# 8 do not &ake it
it is be$a'se 8 a& $owardly and e##e&inate and witho't enth'sias& and do not #eel the
signi#i$an$e o# the lo#ty dignity whi$h is assigned to e+ery &an that o# being his own
$ensor whi$h is a #ar -ro'der title than that o# Kensor 9eneral to the whole 7o&an
7e-'bli$) This &o+e&ent 8 &ake by &ysel# and what 8 gain is &ysel# in &y eternal
$ons$io'sness in bliss#'l agree&ent with &y lo+e #or the *ternal 2eing) 2y #aith 8
&ake ren'n$iation o# nothing on the $ontrary by #aith 8 a$,'ire e+erything -re$isely
in the sense in whi$h it is said that he who has #aith like a grain o# &'stard $an
re&o+e &o'ntains) 4 -'rely h'&an $o'rage is re,'ired to reno'n$e the whole o# the
te&-oral to gain the eternal 0 b't this 8 gain and to all eternity 8 $annot reno'n$e it D
that is a sel#.$ontradi$tion) 2't a -arado/i$al and h'&ble $o'rage is re,'ired to gras-
the whole o# the te&-oral by +irt'e o# the abs'rd and this is the $o'rage o# #aith) 2y
#aith 4braha& did not reno'n$e his $lai& '-on 8saa$ b't by #aith he got 8saa$) 2y
+irt'e o# resignation that ri$h yo'ng &an sho'ld ha+e gi+en away e+erything b't then
when he had done that the knight o# #aith sho'ld ha+e said to hi& 1 2y +irt'e o# the
abs'rd tho' shalt get e+ery -enny ba$k again) Kanst tho' belie+e that F 3 4nd this
s-ee$h o'ght by no &eans to ha+e been indi##erent to the a#oresaid ri$h yo'ng &an
#or in $ase he ga+e away his goods be$a'se he was tired o# the& his resignation was
not &'$h to boast o#)
8t is abo't the te&-oral the #inite e+erything t'rns in this $ase) 8 a& able by &y own
strength to reno'n$e e+erything and then to #ind -ea$e and re-ose in -ain) 8 $an stand
e+erything D e+en tho'gh that horrible de&on &ore dread#'l than death the king o#
terrors e+en tho'gh &adness were to hold '- be#ore &y eyes the &otley o# the #ool
and 8 'nderstood by its look that it was 8 who &'st -'t it on 8 still a& able to sa+e &y
so'l i# only it is &ore to &e than &y earthly ha--iness that &y lo+e to 9od sho'ld
tri'&-h in &e) 4 &an &ay still be able at the last instant to $on$entrate his whole so'l
in a single glan$e toward that hea+en #ro& whi$h $o&eth e+ery good gi#t and his
glan$e will be intelligible to hi&sel# and also to :i& who& it seeks as a sign that he
ne+ertheless re&ained tr'e to his lo+e) Then he will $al&ly -'t on the &otley garb)
:e whose so'l has not this ro&anti$ enth'sias& has sold his so'l whether he got a
kingdo& #or it or a -altry -ie$e o# sil+er) 2't by &y own strength 8 a& not able to get
the least o# the things whi$h belong to #initeness #or 8 a& $onstantly 'sing &y
strength to reno'n$e e+erything) 2y &y own strength 8 a& able to gi+e '- the
-rin$ess and 8 shall not be$o&e a gr'&bler b't shall #ind >oy and re-ose in &y -ain 0
b't by &y own strength 8 a& not able to get her again #or 8 a& e&-loying all &y
strength to be resigned) 2't by #aith says that &ar+ello's knight by #aith 8 shall get
her in +irt'e o# the abs'rd)
So this &o+e&ent 8 a& 'nable to &ake) 4s soon as 8 wo'ld begin to &ake it
e+erything t'rns aro'nd di((ily and 8 #lee ba$k to the -ain o# resignation) 8 $an swi&
in e/isten$e b't #or this &ysti$al soaring 8 a& too hea+y) To e/ist in s'$h a way that
&y o--osition to e/isten$e is e/-ressed as the &ost bea'ti#'l and ass'red har&ony
with it is so&ething 8 $annot do) 4nd yet it &'st be glorio's to get the -rin$ess that
is what 8 say e+ery instant and the knight o# resignation who does not say it is a
de$ei+er he has not had one only wish and he has not ke-t the wish yo'ng by his
-ain) "erha-s there was one who tho'ght it #itting eno'gh that the wish was no longer
+i+id that the barb o# -ain was d'lled b't s'$h a &an is no knight) 4 #ree.born so'l
@H
who $a'ght hi&sel# entertaining s'$h tho'ghts wo'ld des-ise hi&sel# and begin o+er
again abo+e all he wo'ld not -er&it his so'l to be de$ei+ed by itsel#) 4nd yet it &'st
be glorio's to get the -rin$ess and yet the knight o# #aith is the only ha--y one the
heir a--arent to the #inite whereas the knight o# resignation is a stranger and a
#oreigner) Th's to get the -rin$ess to li+e with her >oy#'lly and ha--ily day in and
day o't (#or it is also $on$ei+able that the knight o# resignation &ight get the -rin$ess
b't that his so'l had dis$erned the i&-ossibility o# their #'t're ha--iness) th's to li+e
>oy#'lly and ha--ily e+ery instant by +irt'e o# the abs'rd e+ery instant to see the
sword hanging o+er the head o# the belo+ed and yet not to #ind re-ose in the -ain o#
resignation b't >oy by +irt'e o# the abs'rd D this is &ar+ello's) :e who does it is
great the only great &an) The tho'ght o# it stirs &y so'l whi$h ne+er was niggardly
in the ad&iration o# greatness)
8n $ase then e+eryone in &y generation who will not sto- at #aith is really a &an who
has $o&-rehended li#e=s horror who has 'nderstood what Da'b &eans when he says
that a soldier who stands alone at his -ost with a loaded g'n in a stor&y night beside a
-owder.&aga(ine ; will get strange tho'ghts into his head D in $ase then e+eryone
who will not sto- at #aith is a &an who had strength o# so'l to $o&-rehend that the
wish was an i&-ossibility and there'-on ga+e hi&sel# ti&e to re&ain alone with this
tho'ght in $ase e+eryone who will not sto- at #aith is a &an who is re$on$iled in -ain
and is re$on$iled to -ain in $ase e+eryone who will not sto- at #aith is a &an who in
the ne/t -la$e (and i# he has not done all the #oregoing there is no need o# his
tro'bling hi&sel# abo't #aith) D in the ne/t -la$e did the &ar+ello's thing gras-ed the
whole o# e/isten$e by +irt'e o# the abs'rd ; then what 8 write is the highest e'logy
o# &y $onte&-oraries by one o# the lowliest a&ong the& who was able only to &ake
the &o+e&ent o# resignation) 2't why will they not sto- at #aith why does one
so&eti&es hear that -eo-le are asha&ed to a$knowledge that they ha+e #aith F This 8
$annot $o&-rehend) 8# e+er 8 $ontri+e to be able to &ake this &o+e&ent 8 shall in the
#'t're ride in a $oa$h and #o'r)
8# it is really tr'e that all the "hilistinis& 8 behold in li#e (whi$h 8 do not -er&it &y
word b't &y a$tions to $onde&n) is not what it see&s to be D is it the &ira$le F That
is $on$ei+able #or the hero o# #aith had in #a$t a striking rese&blan$e to it D #or that
hero o# #aith was not so &'$h an ironist or a h'&orist b't so&ething #ar higher) <'$h
is said in o'r age abo't irony and h'&or es-e$ially by -eo-le who ha+e ne+er been
$a-able o# engaging in the -ra$ti$e o# these arts b't who ne+erthless know how to
e/-lain e+erything) 8 a& not entirely 'na$,'ainted with these two -assions 8 know a
little &ore abo't the& than what is to be #o'nd in 9er&an and 9er&an.Danish
$o&-endi'&s) 8 know there#ore that these two -assions are essentially di##erent #ro&
the -assion o# #aith) 8rony and h'&or re#le$t also '-on the&sel+es and there#ore
belong within the s-here o# the in#inite resignation their elasti$ity is d'e to the #a$t
that the indi+id'al is in$o&&ens'rable with reality)
The last &o+e&ent the -arado/i$al &o+e&ent o# #aith 8 $annot &ake (be that a d'ty
or whate+er it &ay be) in s-ite o# the #a$t that 8 wo'ld do it &ore than gladly)
Whether a &an has a right to &ake this a##ir&ation &'st be le#t to hi& it is a
,'estion between hi& and the *ternal 2eing who is the ob>e$t o# #aith whether in this
res-e$t he $an hit '-on an a&i$able $o&-ro&ise) What e+ery &an $an do is to &ake
the &o+e&ent o# in#inite resignation and 8 #or &y -art wo'ld not hesitate to
@B
-rono'n$e e+eryone $owardly who wishes to &ake hi&sel# belie+e he $an not do it)
With #aith it is a di##erent &atter) 2't what e+ery &an has not a right to do is to &ake
others belie+e that #aith is so&ething lowly or that it is an easy thing whereas it is the
greatest and the hardest)
"eo-le $onstr'e the story o# 4braha& in another way) They e/tol 9od=s gra$e in
bestowing 8saa$ '-on hi& again D the whole thing was only a trial) 4 trial D that word
&ay say &'$h or little and yet the whole thing is o+er as ,'i$kly as it is said) Ene
&o'nts a winged horse the sa&e instant one is at <o'nt <oriah the sa&e instant one
sees the ra& 0 one #orgets that 4braha& rode only '-on an ass whi$h walks slowly
along the road that he had a >o'rney o# three days that he needed so&e ti&e to $lea+e
the wood to bind 8saa$ and to shar-en the kni#e)
4nd yet they e/tol 4braha&) :e who is to deli+er the dis$o'rse $an +ery well slee-
till a ,'arter o# an ho'r be#ore he has to -rea$h the a'ditor $an well take a na- d'ring
the dis$o'rse #or all goes s&oothly witho't the least tro'ble #ro& any ,'arter) 8#
there was a &an -resent who s'##ered #ro& inso&nia -erha-s he then went ho&e and
sat in a $orner and tho'ght J 1 8t=s an a##air o# a &o&ent this whole thing 0 i# only yo'
wait a &in'te yo' see the ra& and the trial is o+er) 3 8# the orator were to en$o'nter
hi& in this $ondition he wo'ld 8 think $on#ront hi& with all his dignity and say
1 Wret$hed &an that tho' $o'ldst let thy so'l sink into s'$h #oolishness 5 %o &ira$le
o$$'rs) The whole o# li#e is a trial) 3 8n -ro-ortion as the orator -ro$eeds with his
o't-o'ring he wo'ld get &ore and &ore e/$ited wo'ld be$o&e &ore and &ore
delighted with hi&sel# and whereas he had noti$ed no $ongestion o# the blood while
he talked abo't 4braha& he now #elt how the +ein swelled in his #orehead) "erha-s
he wo'ld ha+e lost his breath as well as his tong'e i# the sinner had answered $al&ly
and with dignity 1 2't it was abo't this yo' -rea$hed last S'nday) 3
Let 's then either $onsign 4braha& to obli+ion or let 's learn to be dis&ayed by the
tre&endo's -arado/ whi$h $onstit'tes the signi#i$an$e o# 4braha&=s li#e that we &ay
'nderstand that o'r age like e+ery age $an be >oy#'l i# it has #aith) 8n $ase 4braha&
is not a n'llity a -hanto& a show one e&-loys #or a -asti&e then the #a'lt $an ne+er
$onsist in the #a$t that the sinner wants to do likewise b't the -oint is to see how
great a thing it was that 4braha& did in order that &an &ay >'dge #or hi&sel#
whether he has the $all and the $o'rage to be s'b>e$ted to s'$h a test) The $o&i$
$ontradi$tion in the beha+ior o# the orator is that he red'$ed 4braha& to an
insigni#i$an$e and yet wo'ld ad&onish the other to beha+e in the sa&e way)
Sho'ld not one dare then to talk abo't 4braha& F 8 think one sho'ld) 8# 8 were to talk
abo't hi& 8 wo'ld #irst de-i$t the -ain o# his trial) To that end 8 wo'ld like a lee$h
s'$k all the dread and distress and tort're o't o# a #ather=s s'##erings so that 8 &ight
des$ribe what 4braha& s'##ered whereas all the while he ne+ertheless belie+ed) 8
wo'ld re&ind the a'dien$e that the >o'rney lasted three days and a good -art o# the
#o'rth yea that these three and a hal# days were in#initely longer than the #ew
tho'sand years whi$h se-arate &e #ro& 4braha&) Then 8 wo'ld re&ind the& that in
&y o-inion e+ery &an dare still t'rn aro'nd ere he begins s'$h an 'ndertaking and
e+ery instant he $an re-entantly t'rn ba$k) 8# one does this 8 #ear no danger nor a& 8
a#raid o# awakening in -eo-le an in$lination to be tried like 4braha&) 2't i# one
wo'ld dis-ose o# a $hea- edition o# 4braha& and yet ad&onish e+eryone to do
@A
likewise then it is l'di$ro's)
8t is now &y intention to draw o't #ro& the story o# 4braha& the diale$ti$al
$onse,'en$es inherent in it e/-ressing the& in the #or& o# prob&emata in order to
see what a tre&endo's -arado/ #aith is a -arado/ whi$h is $a-able o# trans#or&ing a
&'rder into a holy a$t well.-leasing to 9od a -arado/ whi$h gi+es 8saa$ ba$k to
4braha& whi$h no tho'ght $an &aster be$a'se #aith begins -re$isely there where
thinking lea+es o##)
"roble& 8
8s there s'$h a thing as a teleologi$al s's-ension o# the ethi$al F
The ethi$al as s'$h is the 'ni+ersal and as the 'ni+ersal it a--lies to e+eryone whi$h
&ay be e/-ressed #ro& another -oint o# +iew by saying that it a--lies e+ery instant) 8t
re-oses i&&anently in itsel# it has nothing witho't itsel# whi$h is its te&os b't is
itsel# te&os #or e+erything o'tside it and when this has been in$or-orated by the
ethi$al it $an go no #'rther) Kon$ei+ed i&&ediately as -hysi$al and -sy$hi$al the
-arti$'lar indi+id'al is the indi+id'al who has his te&os in the 'ni+ersal and his
ethi$al task is to e/-ress hi&sel# $onstantly in it to abolish his -arti$'larity in order to
be$o&e the 'ni+ersal) 4s soon as the indi+id'al wo'ld assert hi&sel# in his
-arti$'larity o+er against the 'ni+ersal he sins and only by re$ogni(ing this $an he
again re$on$ile hi&sel# with the 'ni+ersal) Whene+er the indi+id'al a#ter he has
entered the 'ni+ersal #eels an i&-'lse to assert hi&sel# as the -arti$'lar he is in
te&-tation (.nfechtung) and he $an labor hi&sel# o't o# this only by -enitently
abandoning hi&sel# as the -arti$'lar in the 'ni+ersal) 8# this be the highest thing that
$an be said o# &an and o# his e/isten$e then the ethi$al has the sa&e $hara$ter as
&an=s eternal blessedness whi$h to all eternity and at e+ery instant is his te&os sin$e
it wo'ld be a $ontradi$tion to say that this &ight be abandoned (i)e) teleologi$ally
s's-ended) inas&'$h as this is no sooner s's-ended than it is #or#eited whereas in
other $ases what is s's-ended is not #or#eited b't is -reser+ed -re$isely in that higher
thing whi$h is its te&os)
8# s'$h be the $ase then :egel is right when in his $ha-ter on 1 The 9ood and the
Kons$ien$e 3 he $hara$teri(es &an &erely as the -arti$'lar and regards this $hara$ter
as 1 a &oral #or& o# e+il 3 whi$h is to be ann'lled in the teleology o# the &oral so
that the indi+id'al who re&ains in this stage is either sinning or s'b>e$ted to
te&-tation (.nfechtung)) En the other hand :egel is wrong in talking o# #aith wrong
in not -rotesting lo'dly and $learly against the #a$t that 4braha& en>oys honor and
glory as the #ather o# #aith whereas he o'ght to be -rose$'ted and $on+i$ted o#
&'rder)
Cor #aith is this -arado/ that the -arti$'lar is higher than the 'ni+ersal D yet in s'$h a
way be it obser+ed that the &o+e&ent re-eats itsel# and that $onse,'ently the
indi+id'al a#ter ha+ing been in the 'ni+ersal now as the -arti$'lar isolates hi&sel# as
@8
higher than the 'ni+ersal) 8# this be not #aith then 4braha& is lost then #aith has
ne+er e/isted in the world ; be$a'se it has always e/isted) Cor i# the ethi$al (i)e) the
&oral) is the highest thing and i# nothing in$o&&ens'rable re&ains in &an in any
other way b't as the e+il (i)e) the -arti$'lar whi$h has to be e/-ressed in the
'ni+ersal) then one needs no other $ategories besides those whi$h the 9reeks
-ossessed or whi$h by $onsistent thinking $an be deri+ed #ro& the&) This #a$t :egel
o'ght not to ha+e $on$ealed #or a#ter all he was a$,'ainted with 9reek tho'ght)
Ene not in#re,'ently hears it said by &en who #or la$k o# losing the&sel+es in st'dies
are absorbed in -hrases that a light shines '-on the Khristian world whereas a
darkness broods o+er -aganis&) This 'tteran$e has always see&ed strange to &e
inas&'$h as e+ery -ro#o'nd thinker and e+ery serio's artist is e+en in o'r day
re>'+enated by the eternal yo'th o# the 9reek ra$e) S'$h an 'tteran$e &ay be
e/-lained by the $onsideration that -eo-le do not know what they o'ght to say b't
only that they &'st say so&ething) 8t is ,'ite right #or one to say that -aganis& did
not -ossess #aith b't i# with this one is to ha+e said so&ething one &'st be a little
$learer abo't what one 'nderstands by #aith sin$e otherwise one #alls ba$k into s'$h
-hrases) To e/-lain the whole o# e/isten$e and #aith along with it witho't ha+ing a
$on$e-tion o# what #aith is is easy and that &an does not &ake the -oorest
$al$'lation in li#e who re$kons '-on ad&iration when he -ossesses s'$h an
e/-lanation 0 #or as 2oilea' says $ un sot trouve tou%ours un p&us sot qui &1admire. +
Caith is -re$isely this -arado/ that the indi+id'al as the -arti$'lar is higher than the
'ni+ersal is >'sti#ied o+er against it is not s'bordinate b't s'-erior D yet in s'$h a
way be it obser+ed that it is the -arti$'lar indi+id'al who a#ter he has been
s'bordinated as the -arti$'lar to the 'ni+ersal now thro'gh the 'ni+ersal be$o&es the
indi+id'al who as the -arti$'lar is s'-erior to the 'ni+ersal #or the #a$t that the
indi+id'al as the -arti$'lar stands in an absol'te relation to the absol'te) This -osition
$annot be &ediated #or all &ediation $o&es abo't -re$isely by +irt'e o# the
'ni+ersal 0 it is and re&ains to all eternity a -arado/ ina$$essible to tho'ght) 4nd yet
#aith is this -arado/ D or else (these are the logi$al ded'$tions whi$h 8 wo'ld beg the
reader to ha+e in mente at e+ery -oint tho'gh it wo'ld be too -roli/ #or &e to
reiterate the& on e+ery o$$asion) D or else there ne+er has been #aith ; -re$isely
be$a'se it always has been) 8n other words 4braha& is lost)
That #or the -arti$'lar indi+id'al this -arado/ &ay easily be &istaken #or a te&-tation
(.nfechtung) is indeed tr'e b't one o'ght not #or this reason to $on$eal it) That the
whole $onstit'tion o# &any -ersons &ay be s'$h that this -arado/ re-els the& is
indeed tr'e b't one o'ght not #or this reason to &ake #aith so&ething di##erent in
order to be able to -ossess it b't o'ght rather to ad&it that one does not -ossess it
whereas those who -ossess #aith sho'ld take $are to set '- $ertain $riteria so that one
&ight disting'ish the -arado/ #ro& a te&-tation (.nfechtung))
%ow the story o# 4braha& $ontains s'$h a teleologi$al s's-ension o# the ethi$al)
There ha+e not been la$king $le+er -ates and -ro#o'nd in+estigators who ha+e #o'nd
analogies to it) Their wisdo& is deri+ed #ro& the -retty -ro-osition that at botto&
e+erything is the sa&e) 8# one will look a little &ore $losely 8 ha+e not &'$h do'bt
that in the whole world one will not #ind a single analogy (e/$e-t a later instan$e
whi$h -ro+es nothing) i# it stands #ast that 4braha& is the re-resentati+e o# #aith and
@!
that #aith is nor&ally e/-ressed in hi& whose li#e is not &erely the &ost -arado/i$al
that $an be tho'ght b't so -arado/i$al that it $annot be tho'ght at all) :e a$ts by
+irt'e o# the abs'rd #or it is -re$isely abs'rd that he as the -arti$'lar is higher than
the 'ni+ersal) This -arado/ $annot be &ediated 0 #or as soon as he begins to do this he
has to ad&it that he was in te&-tation (.nfechtung) and i# s'$h was the $ase he
ne+er gets to the -oint o# sa$ri#i$ing 8saa$ or i# he has sa$ri#i$ed 8saa$ he &'st t'rn
ba$k re-entantly to the 'ni+ersal) 2y +irt'e o# the abs'rd he gets 8saa$ again)
4braha& is there#ore at no instant a tragi$ hero b't so&ething ,'ite di##erent either a
&'rderer or a belie+er) The &iddle ter& whi$h sa+es the tragi$ hero 4braha& has
not) :en$e it is that 8 $an 'nderstand the tragi$ hero b't $annot 'nderstand 4braha&
tho'gh in a $ertain $ra(y sense 8 ad&ire hi& &ore than all other &en)
4braha&=s relation to 8saa$ ethi$ally s-eaking is ,'ite si&-ly e/-ressed by saying
that a #ather shall lo+e his son &ore dearly than hi&sel#) Iet within its own $o&-ass
the ethi$al has +ario's gradations) Let 's see whether in this story there is to be #o'nd
any higher e/-ression #or the ethi$al s'$h as wo'ld ethi$ally e/-lain his $ond'$t
ethi$ally >'sti#y hi& in s's-ending the ethi$al obligation toward his son witho't in
this sear$h going beyond the teleology o# the ethi$al)
When an 'ndertaking in whi$h a whole nation is $on$erned is hindered when s'$h an
enter-rise is bro'ght to a standshll by the dis#a+or o# hea+en when the angry deity
sends a $al& whi$h &o$ks all e##orts when the seer -er#or&s his hea+y task and
-ro$lai&s that the deity de&ands a yo'ng &aiden as a sa$ri#i$e D then will the #ather
heroi$ally &ake the sa$ri#i$e) :e will &agnani&o'sly $on$eal his -ain e+en tho'gh
he &ight wish that he were 1 the lowly &an who dares to wee- 3 not the king who
&'st a$t royally) 4nd tho'gh solitary -ain #or$es its way into his breast he has only
three $on#idants a&ong the -eo-le yet soon the whole nation will be $ogni(ant o# his
-ain b't also $ogni(ant o# his e/-loit that #or the wel#are o# the whole he was willing
to sa$ri#i$e her his da'ghter the lo+ely yo'ng &aiden) E $har&ing boso& 5 E
bea'ti#'l $heeks 5 E bright golden hair 5 (+) B8A)) 4nd the da'ghter will a##e$t hi& by
her tears and the #ather will t'rn his #a$e away b't the hero will raise the kni#e) D
When the re-ort o# this rea$hes the an$estral ho&e then will the bea'ti#'l &aidens o#
9ree$e bl'sh with enth'sias& and i# the da'ghter was betrothed her tr'e lo+e will
not be angry b't be -ro'd o# sharing in the #ather=s deed be$a'se the &aiden
belonged to hi& &ore #eelingly than to the #ather)
When the intre-id >'dge who sa+ed 8srael in the ho'r o# need in one breath binds
hi&sel# and 9od by the sa&e +ow then heroi$ally the yo'ng &aiden=s >'bilation the
belo+ed da'ghter=s >oy he will t'rn to sorrow and with her all 8srael will la&ent her
&aiden yo'th 0 b't e+ery #ree.born &an will 'nderstand and e+ery sto't.hearted
wo&an will ad&ire Je-htha and e+ery &aiden in 8srael will wish to a$t as did his
da'ghter) Cor what good wo'ld it do i# Je-htha were +i$torio's by reason o# his +ow
i# he did not kee- it F Wo'ld not the +i$tory again be taken #ro& the nation F
When a son is #orget#'l o# his d'ty when the state entr'sts the #ather with the sword
o# >'sti$e when the laws re,'ire -'nish&ent at the hand o# the #ather then will the
#ather heroi$ally #orget that the g'ilty one is his son he will &agnani&o'sly $on$eal
his -ain b't there will not be a single one a&ong the -eo-le not e+en the son who
will not ad&ire the #ather and whene+er the law o# 7o&e is inter-reted it will be
3L
re&e&bered that &any inter-reted it &ore learnedly b't none so glorio'sly as 2r't's)
8# on the other hand while a #a+orable wind bore the #leet on with swelling sails to its
goal 4ga&e&non had sent that &essenger who #et$hed 8-higenia in order to be
sa$ri#i$ed 0 i# Je-htha witho't being bo'nd by any +ow whi$h de$ided the #ate o# the
nahon had said to his da'ghter 1 2ewail now thy +irginity #or the s-a$e o# two
&onths #or 8 will sa$ri#i$e thee 3 0 i# 2r't's had had a righteo's son and yet wo'ld
ha+e ordered the li$tors to e/e$'te hi& D who wo'ld ha+e 'nderstood the& F 8# these
three &en had re-lied to the ,'ery why they did it by saying 1 8t is a trial in whi$h we
are tested 3 wo'ld -eo-le ha+e 'nderstood the& better F
When 4ga&e&non Je-htha 2r't's at the de$isi+e &o&ent heroi$ally o+er$o&e their
-ain ha+e heroi$ally lost the belo+ed and ha+e &erely to a$$o&-lish the o'tward
sa$ri#i$e then there ne+er will be a noble so'l in the world who will not shed tears o#
$o&-assion #or their -ain and o# ad&iration #or their e/-loit) 8# on the other hand
these three &en at the de$isi+e &o&ent were to ad>oin to their heroi$ $ond'$t this
little word 1 2't #or all that it will not $o&e to -ass 3 who then wo'ld 'nderstand
the& F 8# as an e/-lanation they added 1 This we belie+e by +irt'e o# the abs'rd 3
who wo'ld 'nderstand the& better F Cor who wo'ld not easily 'nderstand that it was
abs'rd b't who wo'ld 'nderstand that one $o'ld then belie+e it F
The di##eren$e between the tragi$ hero and 4braha& is $learly e+ident) The tragi$
hero still re&ains within the ethi$al) :e lets one e/-ression o# the ethi$al #ind its te&os
in a higher e/-ression o# the ethi$al 0 the ethi$al relation between #ather and son or
da'ghter and #ather he red'$es to a senti&ent whi$h has its diale$ti$ in its relation to
the idea o# &orality) :ere there $an be no ,'estion o# a teleologi$al s's-ension o# the
ethi$al itsel#)
With 4braha& the sit'ation was di##erent) 2y his a$t he o+erste--ed the ethi$al
entirely and -ossessed a higher te&os o'tside o# it in relation to whi$h he s's-ended
the #or&er) Cor 8 sho'ld +ery &'$h like to know how one wo'ld bring 4braha&=s a$t
into relation with the 'ni+ersal and whether it is -ossible to dis$o+er any $onne$tion
whate+er between what 4braha& did and the 'ni+ersal ; e/$e-t the #a$t that he
transgressed it) 8t was not #or the sake o# sa+ing a -eo-le not to &aintain the idea o#
the state that 4braha& did this and not in order to re$on$ile angry deities) 8# there
$o'ld be a ,'estion o# the deity being angry he was angry only with 4braha& and
4braha&=s whole a$tion stands in no relation to the 'ni+ersal is a -'rely -ri+ate
'ndertaking) There#ore whereas the tragi$ hero is great by reason o# his &oral +irt'e
4braha& is great by reason o# a -'rely -ersonal +irt'e) 8n 4braha&=s li#e there is no
higher e/-ression #or the ethi$al than this that the #ather shall lo+e his son) E# the
ethi$al in the sense o# &orality there $an be no ,'estion in this instan$e) 8n so #ar as
the 'ni+ersal was -resent it was indeed $ry-ti$ally -resent in 8saa$ hidden as it were
in 8saa$=s loins and &'st there#ore $ry o't with 8saa$=s &o'th 1 Do it not 5 Tho' art
bringing e+erything to na'ght) 3
Why then did 4braha& do it F Cor 9od=s sake and (in $o&-lete identity with this) #or
his own sake) :e did it #or 9od=s sake be$a'se 9od re,'ired this -roo# o# his #aith 0
#or his own sake he did it in order that he &ight #'rnish the -roo#) The 'nity o# these
two -oints o# +iew is -er#e$tly e/-ressed by the word whi$h has always been 'sed to
$hara$teri(e this sit'ation J it is a trial a te&-tation (2riste&se)) 4 te&-tation D b't
31
what does that &ean F What ordinarily te&-ts a &an is that whi$h wo'ld kee- hi&
#ro& doing his d'ty b't in this $ase the te&-tation is itsel# the ethi$al ; whi$h wo'ld
kee- hi& #ro& doing 9od=s will) 2't what then is d'ty F D'ty is -re$isely the
e/-ression #or 9od=s will)
:ere is e+ident the ne$essity o# a new $ategory i# one wo'ld 'nderstand 4braha&)
S'$h a relationshi- to the deity -aganis& did not know) The tragi$ hero does not enter
into any -ri+ate relationshi- with the deity b't #or hi& the ethi$al is the di+ine hen$e
the -arado/ i&-lied in his sit'ation $an be &ediated in the 'ni+ersal)
4braha& $annot be &ediated and the sa&e thing $an be e/-ressed also by saying that
he $annot talk) So soon as 8 talk 8 e/-ress the 'ni+ersal and i# 8 do not do so no one
$an 'nderstand &e) There#ore i# 4braha& wo'ld e/-ress hi&sel# in ter&s o# the
'ni+ersal he &'st say that his sit'ation is a te&-tation (.nfechtung) #or he has no
higher e/-ression #or that 'ni+ersal whi$h stands abo+e the 'ni+ersal whi$h he
transgresses)
There#ore tho'gh 4braha& aro'ses &y ad&iration he at the sa&e ti&e a--alls &e)
:e who denies hi&sel# and sa$ri#i$es hi&sel# #or d'ty gi+es '- the #inite in order to
gras- the in#inite and that &an is se$'re eno'gh) The tragi$ hero gi+es '- the $ertain
#or the still &ore $ertain and the eye o# the beholder rests '-on hi& $on#idently) 2't
he who gi+es '- the 'ni+ersal in order to gras- so&ething still higher whi$h is not the
'ni+ersal D what is he doing F 8s it -ossible that this $an be anything else b't a
te&-tation (.nfechtung) F 4nd i# it be -ossible ; b't the indi+id'al was &istaken D
what $an sa+e hi& F :e s'##ers all the -ain o# the tragi$ hero he brings to na'ght his
>oy in the world he reno'n$es e+erything ; and -erha-s at the sa&e instant debars
hi&sel# #ro& the s'bli&e >oy whi$h to hi& was so -re$io's that he wo'ld -'r$hase it
at any -ri$e) :i& the beholder $annot 'nderstand nor let his eye rest $on#idently '-on
hi&) "erha-s it is not -ossible to do what the belie+er -ro-oses sin$e it is indeed
'nthinkable) Er i# it $o'ld be done b't i# the indi+id'al had &is'nderstood the deity D
what $an sa+e hi& F The tragi$ hero has need o# tears and $lai&s the& and where is
the en+io's eye whi$h wo'ld be so barren that it $o'ld not wee- with 4ga&e&non 0
b't where is the &an with a so'l so bewildered that he wo'ld ha+e the -res'&-tion to
wee- #or 4braha& F The tragi$ hero a$$o&-lishes his a$t at a de#inite instant in ti&e
b't in the $o'rse o# ti&e he does so&ething not less signi#i$ant he +isits the &an
whose so'l is beset with sorrow whose breast #or sti#led sobs $annot draw breath
whose tho'ghts -regnant with tears weigh hea+ily '-on hi& to hi& he &akes his
a--earan$e dissol+es the sor$ery o# sorrow loosens his $orslet $oa/es #orth his tears
by the #a$t that in his s'##erings the s'##erer #orgets his own) Ene $annot wee- o+er
4braha&) Ene a--roa$hes hi& with a horror re&igiosus as 8srael a--roa$hed <o'nt
Sinai) D 8# then the solitary &an who as$ends <o'nt <oriah whi$h with its -eak rises
hea+en.high abo+e the -lain o# 4'lis i# he be not a so&na&b'list who walks se$'rely
abo+e the abyss while he who is stationed at the #oot o# the &o'ntain and is looking
on tre&bles with #ear and o't o# re+eren$e and dread dare not e+en $all to hi& D i# this
&an is disordered in his &ind i# he had &ade a &istakel Thanks and thanks again to
hi& who -ro##ers to the &an who& the sorrows o# li#e ha+e assa'lted and le#t naked D
-ro##ers to hi& the #ig.lea# o# the word with whi$h he $an $o+er his wret$hedness)
Thanks be to thee great Shakes-eare who art able to e/-ress e+erything absol'tely
e+erything -re$isely as it is D and yet why didst tho' ne+er -rono'n$e this -ang F
3@
Didst tho' -erha-s reser+e it to thysel# D like the lo+ed one whose na&e one $annot
end're that the world sho'ld &ention F Cor the -oet -'r$hases the -ower o# words
the -ower o# 'ttering all the dread se$rets o# others at the -ri$e o# a little se$ret he is
'nable to 'tter ; and a -oet is not an a-ostle he $asts o't de+ils only by the -ower o#
the de+il)
2't now when the ethi$al is th's teleologi$ally s's-ended how does the indi+id'al
e/ist in who& it is s's-ended F :e e/ists as the -arti$'lar in o--osition to the
'ni+ersal) Does he then sin F Cor this is the #or& o# sin as seen in the idea) J'st as the
in#ant tho'gh it does not sin be$a'se it is not as s'$h yet $ons$io's o# its e/isten$e
yet its e/isten$e is sin as seen in the idea and the ethi$al &akes its de&ands '-on it
e+ery instant) 8# one denies that this #or& $an be re-eated 6in the ad'lt? in s'$h a way
that it is not sin then the senten$e o# $onde&nation is -rono'n$ed '-on 4braha&)
:ow then did 4braha& e/ist F :e belie+ed) This is the -arado/ whi$h kee-s hi&
'-on the sheer edge and whi$h he $annot &ake $lear to any other &an #or the
-arado/ is that he as the indi+id'al -'ts hi&sel# in an absol'te relation to the absol'te)
8s he >'sti#ied in doing this F :is >'sti#i$ation is on$e &ore the -arado/ 0 #or i# he is
>'sti#ied it is not by +irt'e o# anything 'ni+ersal b't by +irt'e o# being the -arti$'lar
indi+id'al)
:ow then does the indi+id'al ass're hi&sel# that he is >'sti#ied F 8t is easy eno'gh to
le+el down the whole o# e/isten$e to the idea o# the state or the idea o# so$iety) 8# one
does this one $an also &ediate easily eno'gh #or then one does not en$o'nter at all
the -arado/ that the indi+id'al as the indi+id'al is higher than the 'ni+ersal D whi$h 8
$an a-tly e/-ress also by the thesis o# "ythagoras that the 'ne+en n'&bers are &ore
-er#e$t than the e+en) 8# in o'r age one o$$asionally hears a re>oinder whi$h is
-ertinent to the -arado/ it is likely to be to the #ollowing e##e$t J 1 8t is to be >'dged
by the res'lt) 3 4 hero who has be$o&e a sk3nda&on to his $onte&-oraries be$a'se
they are $ons$io's that he is a -arado/ who $annot &ake hi&sel# intelligible will $ry
o't de#iantly to his generation 1 The res'lt will s'rely -ro+e that 8 a& >'sti#ied) 3 8n
o'r age we hear this $ry rather seldo& #or as o'r age to its disad+antage does not
-rod'$e heroes it has also the ad+antage o# -rod'$ing #ew $ari$at'res) When in o'r
age one hears this saying 1 8t is to be >'dged a$$ording to the res'lt 3 a &an is at
on$e $lear as to who it is he has the honor o# talking with) Those who talk th's are a
n'&ero's tribe who& 8 will deno&inate by the $o&&on na&e o# 'ocents) 8n their
tho'ghts they li+e se$'re in e/isten$e they ha+e a so&id -osition and sure -ros-e$ts in
a well.ordered state they ha+e $ent'ries and e+en &illenni'&s between the& and the
$on$'ssions o# e/isten$e they do not #ear that s'$h things $o'ld re$'r D #or what
wo'ld the -oli$e say to that 5 and the news-a-ers 5 Their li#ework is to >'dge the
great and to >'dge the& a$$ording to the res'lt) S'$h beha+ior toward the great
betrays a strange &i/t're o# arrogan$e and &isery J o# arrogan$e be$a'se they think
they are $alled to be >'dges 0 o# &isery be$a'se they do not #eel that their li+es are
e+en in the re&otest degree akin to the great) S'rely a &an who -ossesses e+en a little
erectioris ingenii 6o# the higher way o# thinking? has not be$o&e entirely a $old and
$la&&y &oll'sk and when he a--roa$hes what is great it $an ne+er es$a-e his &ind
that #ro& the $reation o# the world it has been $'sto&ary #or the res'lt to $o&e last
and that i# one wo'ld tr'ly learn anything #ro& great a$tions one &'st -ay attention
-re$isely to the beginning) 8n $ase he who sho'ld a$t were to >'dge hi&sel# a$$ording
33
to the res'lt he wo'ld ne+er get to the -oint o# beginning) *+en tho'gh the res'lt &ay
gi+e >oy to the whole world it $annot hel- the hero #or he wo'ld get to know the
res'lt only when the whole thing was o+er and it was not by this he be$a&e a hero
b't he was s'$h #or the #a$t that he began)
<oreo+er the res'lt (inas&'$h as it is the answer o# #initeness to the in#inite ,'ery) is
in its diale$ti$ entirely heterogeneo's with the e/isten$e o# the hero) Er is it -ossible
to -ro+e that 4braha& was >'sti#ied in ass'&ing the -osition o# the indi+id'al with
relation to the 'ni+ersal ; #or the #a$t that he got 8saa$ by mirac&e F 8# 4braha& had
a$t'ally sa$ri#i$ed 8saa$ wo'ld he then ha+e been less >'sti#ied F
2't -eo-le are $'rio's abo't the res'lt as they are abo't the res'lt in a book D they
want to know nothing abo't dread distress the -arado/) They #lirt aestheti$ally with
the res'lt it $o&es >'st as 'ne/-e$tedly b't also >'st as easily as a -ri(e in the lottery 0
and when they ha+e heard the res'lt they are edi#ied) 4nd yet no robber o# te&-les
$onde&ned to hard labor behind iron bars is so base a $ri&inal as the &an who
-illages the holy and e+en J'das who sold his <aster #or thirty -ie$es o# sil+er is not
&ore des-i$able than the &an who sells greatness)
8t is abhorrent to &y so'l to talk inh'&anly abo't greatness to let it loo& darkly at a
distan$e in an inde#inite #or& to &ake o't that it is great witho't &aking the h'&an
$hara$ter o# it e+ident D wherewith it $eases to be great) Cor it is not what ha--ens to
&e that &akes &e great b't it is what 8 do and there is s'rely no one who thinks that
a &an be$a&e great be$a'se he won the great -ri(e in the lottery) *+en i# a &an were
born in h'&ble $ir$'&stan$es 8 wo'ld re,'ire o# hi& ne+ertheless that he sho'ld not
be so inh'&an toward hi&sel# as not to be able to think o# the King=s $astle e/$e-t at
a re&ote distan$e drea&ing +ag'ely o# its greatness and wanting at the sa&e ti&e to
e/alt it and also to abolish it by the #a$t that he e/alted it &eanly) 8 re,'ire o# hi& that
he sho'ld be &an eno'gh to ste- #orward $on#idently and worthily e+en in that -la$e)
:e sho'ld not be 'n&anly eno'gh to desire i&-'dently to o##end e+erybody by
r'shing straight #ro& the street into the King=s hall) 2y that he loses &ore than the
King) En the $ontrary he sho'ld #ind >oy in obser+ing e+ery r'le o# -ro-riety with a
glad and $on#ident enth'sias& whi$h will &ake hi& #rank and #earless) This is only a
sy&bol #or the di##eren$e here re&arked '-on is only a +ery i&-er#e$t e/-ression #or
s-irit'al distan$e) 8 re,'ire o# e+ery &an that he sho'ld not think so inh'&anly o#
hi&sel# as not to dare to enter those -ala$es where not &erely the &e&ory o# the ele$t
abides b't where the ele$t the&sel+es abide) :e sho'ld not -ress #orward i&-'dently
and i&-'te to the& kinshi- with hi&sel# 0 on the $ontrary he sho'ld be bliss#'l e+ery
ti&e he bows be#ore the& b't he sho'ld be #rank and $on#ident and always be
so&ething &ore than a $harwo&an #or i# he will not be &ore he will ne+er gain
entran$e) 4nd what will hel- hi& is -re$isely the dread and distress by whi$h the
great are tried #or otherwise i# he has a bit o# -ith in hi& they will &erely aro'se his
>'sti#ied en+y) 4nd what distan$e alone &akes great what -eo-le wo'ld &ake great
by e&-ty and hollow -hrases that they the&sel+es red'$e to na'ght)
Who was e+er so great as that blessed wo&an the <other o# 9od the Girgin <ary F
4nd yet how do we s-eak o# her F We say that she was highly #a+ored a&ong wo&en)
4nd i# it did not ha--en strangely that those who hear are able to think as inh'&anly
as those who talk e+ery yo'ng girl &ight well ask 1 Why was not 8 too the highly
34
#a+ored F 3 4nd i# 8 had nothing else to say 8 wo'ld not dis&iss s'$h a ,'estion as
st'-id #or when it is a &atter o# #a+or abstra$tly $onsidered e+eryone is e,'ally
entitled to it) What they lea+e o't is the distress the dread the -arado/) <y tho'ght is
as -'re as that o# anyone and the tho'ght o# the &an who is able to think s'$h things
will s'rely be$o&e -'re D and i# this be not so he &ay e/-e$t the dread#'l 0 #or he
who on$e has e+oked these i&ages $annot be rid o# the& again and i# he sins against
the& they a+enge the&sel+es with ,'iet wrath &ore terrible than the +o$i#ero'sness
o# ten #ero$io's re+iewers) To be s're <ary bore the $hild &ira$'lo'sly b't it $a&e
to -ass with her a#ter the &anner o# wo&en and that season is one o# dread distress
and -arado/) To be s're the angel was a &inistering s-irit b't it was not a ser+ile
s-irit whi$h obliged her by saying to the other yo'ng &aidens o# 8srael 1 Des-ise not
<ary) What be#alls her is the e/traordinary) 3 2't the 4ngel $a&e only to <ary and
no one $o'ld 'nderstand her) 4#ter all what wo&an was so &orti#ied as <ary F 4nd
is it not tr'e in this instan$e also that one who& 9od blesses :e $'rses in the sa&e
breath F This is the s-irit=s inter-retation o# <ary and she is not (as it sho$ks &e to
say b't sho$ks &e still &ore to think that they ha+e tho'ghtlessly and $o,'ettishly
inter-reted her th's) D she is not a #ine lady who sits in state and -lays with an in#ant
god) %e+ertheless when she says 1 2ehold the hand&aid o# the Lord 3 D then she is
great and 8 think it will not be #o'nd di##i$'lt to e/-lain why she be$a&e the <other
o# 9od) She has no need o# worldly ad&iration any &ore than 4braha& has need o#
tears #or she was not a heroine and he was not a hero b't both o# the& be$a&e
greater than s'$h not at all be$a'se they were e/e&-ted #ro& distress and tor&ent
and -arado/ b't they be$a&e great thro'gh these)
8t is great when the -oet -resenting his tragi$ hero be#ore the ad&iration o# &en
dares to say 1 Wee- #or hi& #or he deser+es it) 3 Cor it is great to deser+e the tears o#
those who are worthy to shed tears) 8t is great that the -oet dares to hold the $rowd in
$he$k dares to $astigate &en re,'iring that e+ery &an e/a&ine hi&sel# whether he
be worthy to wee- #or the hero) Cor the waste.water o# bl'bberers is a degradation o#
the holy) D 2't greater than all this it is that the knight o# #aith dares to say e+en to the
noble &an who wo'ld wee- #or hi& 1 Wee- not #or &e b't wee- #or thysel#) 3
Ene is dee-ly &o+ed one longs to be ba$k in those bea'ti#'l ti&es a sweet yearning
$ond'$ts one to the desired goal to see Khrist wandering in the -ro&ised land) Ene
#orgets the dread the distress the -arado/) Was it so easy a &atter not to be
&istaken F Was it not dread#'l that this &an who walks a&ong the others D was it not
dread#'l that :e was 9od F Was it not dread#'l to sit at table with :i& F Was it so
easy a &atter to be$o&e an 4-ostle F 2't the res'lt eighteen h'ndred years D that is a
hel- it hel-s to the shabby de$eit wherewith one de$ei+es onesel# and others) 8 do not
#eel the $o'rage to wish to be $onte&-orary with s'$h e+ents b't hen$e 8 do not
>'dge se+erely those who were &istaken nor think &eanly o# those who saw aright)
8 ret'rn howe+er to 4braha&) 2e#ore the res'lt either 4braha& was e+ery &in'te a
&'rderer or we are $on#ronted by a -arado/ whi$h is higher than all &ediation)
The story o# 4braha& $ontains there#ore a teleologi$al s's-ension o# the ethi$al) 4s
the indi+id'al he be$a&e higher than the 'ni+ersal) This is the -arado/ whi$h does
not -er&it o# &ediation) 8t is >'st as ine/-li$able how he got into it as it is
ine/-li$able how he re&ained in it) 8# s'$h is not the -osition o# 4braha& then he is
3H
not e+en a tragi$ hero b't a &'rderer) To want to $ontin'e to $all hi& the #ather o#
#aith to talk o# this to -eo-le who do not $on$e& the&sel+es with anything b't
words is tho'ghtless) 4 &an $an be$o&e a tragi$ hero by his own -owers D b't not a
knight o# #aith) When a &an enters '-on the way in a $ertain sense the hard way o#
the tragi$ hero &any will be able to gi+e hi& $o'nsel 0 to hi& who #ollows the
narrow way o# #aith no one $an gi+e $o'nsel hi& no one $an 'nderstand) Caith is a
&ira$le and yet no &an is e/$l'ded #ro& it 0 #or that in whi$h all h'&an li#e is
'ni#ied is -assionM and #aith is a -assion)
MLessing has so&ewhere gi+en e/-ression to a si&ilar tho'ght #ro& a -'rely aestheti$
-oint o# +iew) What he wo'ld show e/-ressly in this -assage is that sorrow too $an
#ind a witty e/-ression) To this end he ,'otes a re>oinder o# the 'nha--y *nglish king
*dward 88) 8n $ontrast to this he ,'otes #ro& Diderot a story o# a -easant wo&an and a
re>oinder o# hers) Then he $ontin'es J 1 That too was wit and the wit o# a -easant at
that 0 b't the sit'ation &ade it ine+itable) Konse,'ently one &'st not seek to kind the
e/$'se #or the witty e/-ressions o# -ain and o# sorrow in the #a$t that the -erson who
'ttered the& was a s'-erior -erson well ed'$ated intelligent and witty withal for
the passions make a&& men again equa& D b't the e/-lanation is to be #o'nd in the #a$t
that in all -robability e+eryone wo'ld ha+e said the sa&e thing in the sa&e sit'ation)
The tho'ght o# a -easant wo&an a ,'een $o'ld ha+e had and &'st ha+e had >'st as
what the king said in that instan$e a -easant too wo'ld ha+e been able to say and
do'btless wo'ld ha+e said) 3 K#) SQ&tli$he Werke RRR) -) @@3)
"roble& 88
8s there s'$h a thing as an absol'te d'ty toward 9od F
The ethi$al is the 'ni+ersal and as s'$h it is again the di+ine) Ene has there#ore a
right to say that #'nda&entally e+ery d'ty is a d'ty toward 9od 0 b't i# one $annot say
&ore then one a##ir&s at the sa&e ti&e that -ro-erly 8 ha+e no d'ty toward 9od)
D'ty be$o&es d'ty by being re#erred to 9od b't in d'ty itsel# 8 do not $o&e into
relation with 9od) Th's it is a d'ty to lo+e one=s neighbor b't in -er#or&ing this d'ty
8 do not $o&e into relation with 9od b't with the neighbor who& 8 lo+e) 8# 8 say then
in this $onne$tion that it is &y d'ty to lo+e 9od 8 a& really 'ttering only a ta'tology
inas&'$h as 1 9od 3 is in this instan$e 'sed in an entirely abstra$t sense as the di+ine
i)e) the 'ni+ersal i)e) d'ty) So the whole e/isten$e o# the h'&an ra$e is ro'nded o##
$o&-letely like a s-here and the ethi$al is at on$e its li&it and its $ontent) 9od
be$o&es an in+isible +anishing -oint a -owerless tho'ght :is -ower being only in
the ethi$al whi$h is the $ontent o# e/isten$e) 8# in any way it &ight o$$'r to any &an
to want to lo+e 9od in any other sense than that here indi$ated he is ro&anti$ he
lo+es a -hanto& whi$h i# it had &erely the -ower o# being able to s-eak wo'ld say
to hi& 1 8 do not re,'ire yo'r lo+e) Stay where yo' belong) 3 8# in any way it &ight
3B
o$$'r to a &an to want to lo+e 9od otherwise this lo+e wo'ld be o-en to s's-i$ion
like that o# whi$h 7o'ssea' s-eaks re#erring to -eo-le who lo+e the Ka##irs instead
o# their neighbors)
So in $ase what has been e/-o'nded here is $orre$t in $ase there is no
in$o&&ens'rability in a h'&an li#e and what there is o# the in$o&&ens'rable is only
s'$h by an a$$ident #ro& whi$h no $onse,'en$es $an be drawn in so #ar as e/isten$e
is regarded in ter&s o# the idea :egel is right 0 b't he is not right in talking abo't
#aith or in allowing 4braha& to be regarded as the #ather o# it 0 #or by the latter he has
-rono'n$ed >'dg&ent both '-on 4braha& and '-on #aith) 8n the :egelian -hiloso-hy
das 4ussere (die 0nt5usserung! is higher than das /nnere) This is #re,'ently ill'strated
by an e/a&-le) The $hild is das /nnere the &an das 4ussere) :en$e it is that the $hild
is de#ined by the o'tward and $on+ersely the &an as das 4ussere is de#ined
-re$isely by das /nnere) Caith on the $ontrary is the -arado/ that inwardness is
higher than o'twardness D or to re$all an e/-ression 'sed abo+e the 'ne+en n'&ber
is higher than the e+en)
8n the ethi$al way o# regarding li#e it is there#ore the task o# the indi+id'al to di+est
hi&sel# o# the inward deter&inants and e/-ress the& in an o'tward way) Whene+er he
shrinks #ro& this whene+er he is in$lined to -ersist in or to sli- ba$k again into the
inward deter&inants o# #eeling &ood et$) he sins he is in a te&-tation (.nfechtung))
The -arado/ o# #aith is this that there is an inwardness whi$h is in$o&&ens'rable #or
the o'tward an inwardness be it obser+ed whi$h is not identi$al with the #irst b't is
a new inwardness) This &'st not be o+erlooked) <odern -hiloso-hy has -er&itted
itsel# witho't #'rther ado to s'bstit'te in -la$e o# 1 #aith 3 the i&&ediate) When one
does that it is ridi$'lo's to deny that #aith has e/isted in all ages) 8n that way #aith
$o&es into rather si&-le $o&-any along with #eeling &ood idiosyn$rasy +a-ors
et$) To this e/tent -hiloso-hy &ay be right in saying that one o'ght not to sto- there)
2't there is nothing to >'sti#y -hiloso-hy in 'sing this -hrase with regard to #aith)
2e#ore #aith there goes a &o+e&ent o# in#inity and only then necopinate by +irt'e o#
the abs'rd #aith enters '-on the s$ene) This 8 $an well 'nderstand witho't
&aintaining on that a$$o'nt that 8 ha+e #aith) 8# #aith is nothing b't what -hiloso-hy
&akes it o't to be then So$rates already went #'rther &'$h #'rther whereas the
$ontrary is tr'e that he ne+er rea$hed it) 8n an intelle$t'al res-e$t he &ade the
&o+e&ent o# in#inity) :is ignoran$e is in#inite resignation) This task in itsel# is a
&at$h #or h'&an -owers e+en tho'gh -eo-le in o'r ti&e disdain it 0 b't only a#ter it
is done only when the indi+id'al has e+a$'ated hi&sel# in the in#inite only then is
the -oint attained where #aith $an break #orth)
The -arado/ o# #aith is this that the indi+id'al is higher than the 'ni+ersal that the
indi+id'al (to re$all a dog&ati$ distin$tion now rather seldo& heard) deter&ines his
relation to the 'ni+ersal by his relation to the absol'te not his relation to the absol'te
by his relation to the 'ni+ersal) The -arado/ $an also be e/-ressed by saying that
there is an absol'te d'ty toward 9od 0 #or in this relationshi- o# d'ty the indi+id'al as
an indi+id'al stands related absol'tely to the absol'te) So when in this $onne$tion it is
said that it is a d'ty to lo+e 9od so&ething di##erent is said #ro& that in the
#oregoing 0 #or i# this d'ty is absol'te the ethi$al is red'$ed to a -osition o# relati+ity)
Cro& this howe+er it does not #ollow that the ethi$al is to be abolished b't it
a$,'ires an entirely di##erent e/-ression the -arado/i$al e/-ression D that #or
3A
e/a&-le lo+e to 9od &ay $a'se the knight o# #aith to gi+e his lo+e to his neighbor the
o--osite e/-ression to that whi$h ethi$ally s-eaking is re,'ired by d'ty)
8# s'$h is not the $ase then #aith has no -ro-er -la$e in e/isten$e then #aith is a
te&-tation (.nfechtung) and 4braha& is lost sin$e he ga+e in to it)
This -arado/ does not -er&it o# &ediation #or it is #o'nded -re$isely '-on the #a$t
that the indi+id'al is only the indi+id'al) 4s soon as this indi+id'al 6who is aware o# a
dire$t $o&&and #ro& 9od? wishes to e/-ress his absol'te d'ty in 6ter&s o#? the
'ni+ersal 6i)e) the ethi$al and? is s're o# his d'ty in that 6i)e) the 'ni+ersal or ethi$al
-re$e-t? he re$ogni(es that he is in te&-tation 6i)e) a trial o# #aith? and i# in #a$t he
resists 6the dire$t indi$ation o# 9od=s will? he ends by not #'l#illing the absol'te d'ty
so $alled 6i)e) what here has been $alled the absol'te d'ty? 0 and i# he doesn=t do this
6i)e) doesn=t -'t '- a resistan$e to the dire$t inti&ation o# 9od=s will? he sins e+en
tho'gh rea&iter his deed were that whi$h it was his absol'te d'ty to do)M
MThe trans&ator has ventured to render this mudd sentence ver &ibera&& (though he
has bracketed his e*p&anator additions!, in order to bring out the meaning this
sentence must have if it is to e*press the anguishing parado* of a $ te&eo&ogica&
suspension of the ethica&. + This is the meaning ,ie&s Thu&strup gets out of it, and he
te&&s me that this is the trans&ation of 0manue& "irsch. .s S.6.1s sentence stands,
without e*p&anator additions, it reminds me of a rigmaro&e & have often recited to the
mstification of m hearers 7 $ /f a man were to signif, which he were not, if he had
the power, which being denied him, he were to endeavor anhow 8 mere& because he
don1t, wou&d ou 9 + Much as / &ove 6ierkegaard, / sometimes hate him for keeping
me awake at night. :n& between s&eeping and waking am / ab&e to unrave& some of
his most comp&icated sentences.
So what sho'ld 4braha& do F 8# he wo'ld say to another -erson 1 8saa$ 8 lo+e &ore
dearly than e+erything in the world and hen$e it is so hard #or &e to sa$ri#i$e hi& 3 0
then s'rely the other wo'ld ha+e shaken his head and said 1 Why will yo' sa$ri#i$e
hi& then F 3 D or i# the other had been a sly #ellow he s'rely wo'ld ha+e seen thro'gh
4braha& and -er$ei+ed that he was &aking a show o# #eelings whi$h were in strident
$ontradi$tion to his a$t)
8n the story o# 4braha& we #ind s'$h a -arado/) :is relation to 8saa$ ethi$ally
e/-ressed is this that the #ather sho'ld lo+e the son) This ethi$al relation is red'$ed
to a relati+e -osition in $ontrast with the absol'te relation to 9od) To the ,'estion
1 Why F 3 4braha& has no answer e/$e-t that it is a trial a te&-tation (2riste&se) D
ter&s whi$h as was re&arked abo+e e/-ress the 'nity o# the two -oints o# +iew J that
it is #or 9od=s sake and #or his own sake) 8n $o&&on 'sage these two ways o#
regarding the &atter are &'t'ally e/$l'si+e) Th's when we see a &an do so&ething
whi$h does not $o&-ort with the 'ni+ersal we say that he s$ar$ely $an be doing it #or
9od=s sake and by that we i&-ly that he does it #or his own sake) The -arado/ o#
#aith has lost the inter&ediate ter& i)e) the 'ni+ersal) En the one side it has the
e/-ression #or the e/tre&est egois& (doing the dread#'l thing it does #or one=s own
sake) 0 on the other side the e/-ression #or the &ost absol'te sel#.sa$ri#i$e (doing it
38
#or 9od=s sake)) Caith itsel# $annot be &ediated into the 'ni+ersal #or it wo'ld
thereby be destroyed) Caith is this -arado/ and the indi+id'al absol'tely $annot &ake
hi&sel# intelligible to anybody) "eo-le i&agine &aybe that the indi+id'al $an &ake
hi&sel# intelligible to another indi+id'al in the sa&e $ase) S'$h a notion wo'ld be
'nthinkable i# in o'r ti&e -eo-le did not in so &any ways seek to $ree- slyly into
greatness) The one knight o# #aith $an render no aid to the other) *ither the indi+id'al
be$o&es a knight o# #aith by ass'&ing the b'rden o# the -arado/ or he ne+er
be$o&es one) 8n these regions -artnershi- is 'nthinkable) *+ery &ore -re$ise
e/-li$ation o# what is to be 'nderstood by 8saa$ the indi+id'al $an gi+e only to
hi&sel#) 4nd e+en i# one were able generally s-eaking to de#ine e+er so -re$isely
what sho'ld be intended by 8saa$ (whi$h &oreo+er wo'ld be the &ost l'di$ro's sel#.
$ontradi$tion i)e) that the -arti$'lar indi+id'al who de#initely stands o'tside the
'ni+ersal is s'bs'&ed 'nder 'ni+ersal $ategories -re$isely when he has to a$t as the
indi+id'al who stands o'tside the 'ni+ersal) the indi+id'al ne+ertheless will ne+er be
able to ass're hi&sel# by the aid o# others that this a--li$ation is a--ro-riate b't he
$an do so only by hi&sel# as the indi+id'al) :en$e e+en i# a &an were $owardly and
-altry eno'gh to wish to be$o&e a knight o# #aith on the res-onsibility o# an o'tsider
he will ne+er be$o&e one 0 #or only the indi+id'al be$o&es a knight o# #aith as the
-arti$'lar indi+id'al and this is the greatness o# this knighthood as 8 $an well
'nderstand witho't entering the order sin$e 8 la$k $o'rage 0 b't this is also its terror
as 8 $an $o&-rehend e+en better)
8n L'ke 14 J@B as e+erybody knows there is a striking do$trine ta'ght abo't the
absol'te d'ty toward 9od J 1 8# any &an $o&eth 'nto &e and hateth not his own
#ather and &other and wi#e and $hildren and brethren and sisters yea and his own li#e
also he $annot be &y dis$i-le) 3 This is a hard saying who $an bear to hear it F Cor
this reason it is heard +ery seldo&) This silen$e howe+er is only an e+asion whi$h is
o# no a+ail) %e+ertheless the st'dent o# theology learns to know that these words
o$$'r in the %ew Testa&ent and in one or another e/egeti$al aid he #inds the
e/-lanation that mise;n in this -assage and a #ew others is 'sed in the sense o#
me<sein signi#ying minus di&igo, posthabeo, non co&o, nihi&i facio) :owe+er the
$onte/t in whi$h these words o$$'r does not see& to strengthen this taste#'l
e/-lanation) 8n the +erse i&&ediately #ollowing there is a story abo't a &an who
desired to b'ild a tower b't #irst sat down to $al$'late whether he was $a-able o#
doing it lest -eo-le &ight la'gh at hi& a#terwards) The $lose $onne$tion o# this story
with the +erse here $ited see&s -re$isely to indi$ate that the words are to be taken in
as terrible a sense as -ossible to the end that e+eryone &ay e/a&ine hi&sel# as to
whether he is able to ere$t the b'ilding)
8n $ase this -io's and kindly e/egete who by abating the -ri$e tho'ght he $o'ld
s&'ggle Khristianity into the world were #ort'nate eno'gh to $on+in$e a &an that
gra&&ati$ally ling'isti$ally and kat1 a1na&og<an 6analogi$ally? this was the &eaning
o# that -assage it is to be ho-ed that the sa&e &o&ent he will be #ort'nate eno'gh to
$on+in$e the sa&e &an that Khristianity is one o# the &ost -itiable things in the
world) Cor the do$trine whi$h in one o# its &ost lyri$al o'tb'rsts where the
$ons$io'sness o# its eternal +alidity swells in it &ost strongly has nothing else to say
b't a noisy word whi$h &eans nothing b't only signi#ies that one is to be less kindly
less attenti+e &ore indi##erent 0 the do$trine whi$h at the &o&ent when it &akes as i#
3!
it wo'ld gi+e 'tteran$e to the terrible ends by dri+eling instead o# terri#ying D that
do$trine is not worth taking o## &y hat to)
The words are terrible yet 8 #'lly belie+e that one $an 'nderstand the& witho't
i&-lying that he who 'nderstands the& has $o'rage to do the&) Ene &'st at all
e+ents be honest eno'gh to a$knowledge what stands written and to ad&it that it is
great e+en tho'gh one has not the $o'rage #or it) :e who beha+es th's will not #ind
hi&sel# e/$l'ded #ro& ha+ing -art in that bea'ti#'l story whi$h #ollows #or a#ter all it
$ontains $onsolation o# a sort #or the &an who had not $o'rage to begin the tower) 2't
we &'st be honest and not inter-ret this la$k o# $o'rage as h'&ility sin$e it is really
-ride whereas the $o'rage o# #aith is the only h'&ble $o'rage)
Ene $an easily -er$ei+e that i# there is to be any sense in this -assage it &'st be
'nderstood literally) 9od it is who re,'ires absol'te lo+e) 2't he who in de&anding a
-erson=s lo+e thinks that this lo+e sho'ld be -ro+ed also by be$o&ing l'kewar& to
e+erything whi$h hitherto was dear D that &an is not only an egoist b't st'-id as well
and he who wo'ld de&and s'$h lo+e signs at the sa&e &o&ent his own death.
warrant s'--osing that his li#e was bo'nd '- with this $o+eted lo+e) Th's a h'sband
de&ands that his wi#e shall lea+e #ather and &other b't i# he were to regard it as a
-roo# o# her e/traordinary lo+e #or hi& that she #or his sake be$a&e an indolent
l'kewar& da'ghter et$) then he is the st'-idest o# the st'-id) 8# he had any notion o#
what lo+e is he wo'ld wish to dis$o+er that as da'ghter and sister she was -er#e$t in
lo+e and wo'ld see therein the -roo# that she wo'ld lo+e hi& &ore than anyone else
in the real&) What there#ore in the $ase o# a &an one wo'ld regard as a sign o#
egois& and st'-idity that one is to regard by the hel- o# an e/egete as a worthy
$on$e-tion o# the Deity)
2't how hate the& F 8 will not re$all here the h'&an distin$tion between lo+ing and
hating D not be$a'se 8 ha+e &'$h to ob>e$t to in it (#or a#ter all it is -assionate) b't
be$a'se it is egoisti$ and is not in -la$e here) :owe+er i# 8 regard the -roble& as a
-arado/ then 8 'nderstand it that is 8 'nderstand it in s'$h a way as one $an
'nderstand a -arado/) The absol'te d'ty &ay $a'se one to do what ethi$s wo'ld
#orbid b't by no &eans $an it $a'se the knight o# #aith to $ease to lo+e) This is shown
by 4braha&) The instant he is ready to sa$ri#i$e 8saa$ the ethi$al e/-ression #or what
he does is this J he hates 8saa$) 2't i# he really hates 8saa$ he $an be s're that 9od
does not re,'ire this #or Kain and 4braha& are not identi$al) 8saa$ he &'st lo+e with
his whole so'l 0 when 9od re,'ires 8saa$ he &'st lo+e hi& i# -ossible e+en &ore
dearly and only on this $ondition $an he sacrifice hi& 0 #or in #a$t it is this lo+e #or
8saa$ whi$h by its -arado/i$al o--osition to his lo+e #or 9od &akes his a$t a
sa$ri#i$e) 2't the distress and dread in this -arado/ is that h'&anly s-eaking he is
entirely 'nable to &ake hi&sel# intelligible) Enly at the &o&ent when his a$t is in
absol'te $ontradi$tion to his #eeling is his a$t a sa$ri#i$e b't the reality o# his a$t is
the #a$tor by whi$h he belongs to the 'ni+ersal and in that as-e$t he is and re&ains a
&'rderer)
<oreo+er the -assage in L'ke &'st be 'nderstood in s'$h a way as to &ake it $learly
e+ident that the knight o# #aith has no higher e/-ression o# the 'ni+ersal (i)e) the
ethi$al) by whi$h he $an sa+e hi&sel#) Th's #or e/a&-le i# we s'--ose that the
Kh'r$h re,'ires s'$h a sa$ri#i$e o# one o# its &e&bers we ha+e in this $ase only a
4L
tragi$ hero) Cor the idea o# the Kh'r$h is not ,'alitati+ely di##erent #ro& that o# the
State in so #ar as the indi+id'al $o&es into it by a si&-le &ediation and in so #ar as
the indi+id'al $o&es into the -arado/ he does not rea$h the idea o# the Kh'r$h 0 he
does not $o&e o't o# the -arado/ b't in it he &'st #ind either his blessedness or his
-erdition) S'$h an e$$lesiasti$al hero e/-resses in his a$t the 'ni+ersal and there will
be no one in the Kh'r$h D not e+en his #ather and &other et$) D who #ails to
'nderstand hi&) En the other hand he is not a knight o# #aith and he has also a
di##erent answer #ro& that o# 4braha& J he does not say that it is a trial or a
te&-tation in whi$h he is tested)
"eo-le $o&&only re#rain #ro& ,'oting s'$h a te/t as this in L'ke) They are a#raid o#
gi+ing &en a #ree rein are a#raid that the worst will ha--en as soon as the indi+id'al
takes it into his head to $o&-ort hi&sel# as the indi+id'al) <oreo+er they think that
to e/ist as the indi+id'al is the easiest thing o# all and that there#ore -eo-le ha+e to be
$o&-elled to be$o&e the 'ni+ersal) 8 $annot share either this #ear or this o-inion and
both #or the sa&e reason) :e who has learned that to e/ist as the indi+id'al is the &ost
terrible thing o# all will not be #ear#'l o# saying that it is great b't then too he will say
this in s'$h a way that his words will s$ar$ely be a snare #or the bewildered &an b't
rather will hel- hi& into the 'ni+ersal e+en tho'gh his words do to so&e e/tent &ake
roo& #or the great) The &an who does not dare to &ention s'$h te/ts will not dare to
&ention 4braha& either and his notion that it is easy eno'gh to e/ist as the indi+id'al
i&-lies a +ery s's-i$io's ad&ission with regard to hi&sel# 0 #or he who has a real
res-e$t #or hi&sel# and $on$ern #or his so'l is $on+in$ed that the &an who li+es 'nder
his own s'-er+ision alone in the whole world li+es &ore stri$tly and &ore se$l'ded
than a &aiden in her lady=s bower) That there &ay be so&e who need $o&-'lsion
so&e who i# they were #ree.#ooted wo'ld riot in sel#ish -leas'res like 'nr'ly beasts
is do'btless tr'e 0 b't a &an &'st -ro+e -re$isely that he is not o# this n'&ber by the
#a$t that he knows how to s-eak with dread and tre&bling 0 and o't o# re+eren$e #or
the great one is bo'nd to s-eak lest it be #orgotten #or #ear o# the ill e##e$t whi$h
s'rely will #ail to e+ent'ate when a &an talks in s'$h a way that one knows it #or the
great knows its terror D and a-art #ro& the terror one does not know the great at all)
Let 's $onsider a little &ore $losely the distress and dread in the -arado/ o# #aith) The
tragi$ hero reno'n$es hi&sel# in order to e/-ress the 'ni+ersal the knight o# #aith
reno'n$es the 'ni+ersal in order to be$o&e the indi+id'al) 4s has been said
e+erything de-ends '-on how one is -la$ed) :e who belie+es that it is easy eno'gh to
be the indi+id'al $an always be s're that he is not a knight o# #aith #or +agabonds and
ro+ing geni'ses are not &en o# #aith) The knight o# #aith knows on the other hand
that it is glorio's to belong to the 'ni+ersal) :e knows that it is bea'ti#'l and sal'tary
to be the indi+id'al who translates hi&sel# into the 'ni+ersal who edits as it were a
-'re and elegant edition o# hi&sel# as #ree #ro& errors as -ossible and whi$h
e+eryone $an read) :e knows that it is re#reshing to be$o&e intelligible to onesel# in
the 'ni+ersal so that he 'nderstands it and so that e+ery indi+id'al who 'nderstands
hi& 'nderstands thro'gh hi& in t'rn the 'ni+ersal and both re>oi$e in the se$'rity o#
the 'ni+ersal) :e knows that it is bea'ti#'l to be born as the indi+id'al who has the
'ni+ersal as his ho&e his #riendly abiding.-la$e whi$h at on$e wel$o&es hi& with
o-en ar&s when he wo'ld tarry in it) 2't he knows also that higher than this there
winds a solitary -ath narrow and stee- 0 he knows that it is terrible to be born o'tside
41
the 'ni+ersal to walk witho't &eeting a single tra+eller) :e knows +ery well where
he is and how he is related to &en) :'&anly s-eaking he is $ra(y and $annot &ake
hi&sel# intelligible to anyone) 4nd yet it is the &ildest e/-ression to say that he is
$ra(y) 8# he is not s'--osed to be that then he is a hy-o$rite and the higher he $li&bs
on this -ath the &ore dread#'l a hy-o$rite he is)
The knight o# #aith knows that to gi+e '- onesel# #or the 'ni+ersal ins-ires
enth'sias& and that it re,'ires $o'rage b't he also knows that se$'rity is to be #o'nd
in this -re$isely be$a'se it is #or the 'ni+ersal) :e knows that it is glorio's to be
'nderstood by e+ery noble &ind so glorio's that the beholder is ennobled by it and
he #eels as i# he were bo'nd 0 he $o'ld wish it were this task that had been allotted to
hi&) Th's 4braha& $o'ld s'rely ha+e wished now and then that the task were to lo+e
8saa$ as be$o&es a #ather in a way intelligible to all &e&orable thro'gho't all ages 0
he $o'ld wish that the task were to sa$ri#i$e 8saa$ #or the 'ni+ersal that he &ight
in$ite the #athers to ill'strio's deeds D and he is al&ost terri#ied by the tho'ght that #or
hi& s'$h wishes are only te&-tations and &'st be dealt with as s'$h #or he knows
that it is a solitary -ath he treads and that he a$$o&-lishes nothing #or the 'ni+ersal
b't only hi&sel# is tried and e/a&ined) Er what did 4braha& a$$o&-lish #or the
'ni+ersal F Let &e s-eak h'&anly abo't it ,'ite h'&anly) :e s-ent se+enty years in
getting a son o# his old age) What other &en get ,'i$kly eno'gh and en>oy #or a long
ti&e he s-ent se+enty years in a$$o&-lishing) 4nd why F 2e$a'se he was tried and
-'t to the test) 8s not that $ra(y F 2't 4braha& belie+ed and Sarah wa+ered and got
hi& to take :agar as a $on$'bine D b't there#ore he also had to dri+e her away) :e
gets 8saa$ then he has to be tried again) :e knew that it is glorio's to e/-ress the
'ni+ersal glorio's to li+e with 8saa$) 2't this is not the task) :e knew that it is a
kingly thing to sa$ri#i$e s'$h a son #or the 'ni+ersal he hi&sel# wo'ld ha+e #o'nd
re-ose in that and all wo'ld ha+e re-osed in the $o&&endation o# his deed as a
+owel re-oses in its $onsonant b't that is not the task D he is tried) That 7o&an
general who is $elebrated by his na&e o# K'n$tator $he$ked the #oe by -ro$rastination
D b't what a -ro$rastinator 4braha& is in $o&-arison with hi& 5 ; yet he did not
sa+e the state) This is the $ontent o# one h'ndred and thirty years) Who $an bear it F
Wo'ld not his $onte&-orary age i# we $an s-eak o# s'$h a thing ha+e said o# hi&
1 4braha& is eternally -ro$rastinating) Cinally he gets a son) That took long eno'gh)
%ow he wants to sa$ri#i$e hi&) So is he not &ad F 4nd i# at least he $o'ld e/-lain
why he wants to do it D b't he always says that it is a trial) 3 %or $o'ld 4braha&
e/-lain &ore #or his li#e is like a book -la$ed 'nder a di+ine atta$h&ent and whi$h
ne+er be$o&es pub&ici %uris)
This is the terrible thing) :e who does not see it $an always be s're that he is no
knight o# #aith b't he who sees it will not deny that e+en the &ost tried o# tragi$
heroes walks with a dan$ing ste- $o&-ared with the knight o# #aith who $o&es
slowly $ree-ing #orward) 4nd i# he has -er$ei+ed this and ass'red hi&sel# that he has
not $o'rage to 'nderstand it he will at least ha+e a -resenti&ent o# the &ar+ello's
glory this knight attains in the #a$t that he be$o&es 9od=s inti&ate a$,'aintan$e the
Lord=s #riend and (to s-eak ,'ite h'&anly) that he says 1 Tho' 3 to 9od in hea+en
whereas e+en the tragi$ hero only addresses :i& in the third -erson)
The tragi$ hero is soon ready and has soon #inished the #ight he &akes the in#inite
&o+e&ent and then is se$'re in the 'ni+ersal) The knight o# #aith on the other hand
4@
is ke-t slee-less #or he is $onstantly tried and e+ery instant there is the -ossibility o#
being able to ret'rn re-entantly to the 'ni+ersal and this -ossibility $an >'st as well be
a te&-tation as the tr'th) :e $an deri+e e+iden$e #ro& no &an whi$h it is #or with
that ,'ery he is o'tside the -arado/)
So the knight o# #aith has #irst and #ore&ost the re,'isite -assion to $on$entrate '-on
a single #a$tor the whole o# the ethi$al whi$h he transgresses so that he $an gi+e
hi&sel# the ass'ran$e that he really lo+es 8saa$ with his whole so'l)M
M8 wo'ld el'$idate yet on$e &ore the di##eren$e between the $ollisions whi$h are
en$o'ntered by the tragi$ hero and by the knight o# #aith) The tragi$ hero ass'res
hi&sel# that the ethi$al obligation 6i)e) the lower ethi$al obligation whi$h he -'ts
aside #or the higher in the -resent $ase a$$or$lingly it is the obligation to s-are his
da'ghter=s li#e? is totally -resent in hi& by the #a$t that he trans#or&s it into a wish)
Th's 4ga&e&non $an say 1 The -roo# that 8 do not o##end against &y -arental d'ty
is that &y d'ty is &y only wish) 3 So here we ha+e wish and d'ty #a$e to #a$e with
one another) The #ort'nate $han$e in li#e is that the two $orres-ond that &y wish is
&y d'ty and +i$e +ersa and the task o# &ost &en in li#e is -re$isely to re&ain within
their d'ty and by their enth'sias& to trans#or& it into their wish) The tragi$ hero gi+es
'- his wish in order to a$$o&-lish his d'ty) Cor the knight o# #aith wish and d'ty are
also identi$al b't he is re,'ired to gi+e '- both) There#ore when he wo'ld resign
hi&sel# to gi+ing '- his wish he does not #ind re-ose #or that is a#ter all his d'ty) 8# he
wo'ld re&ain within his d'ty and his wish he is not a knight o# #aith #or the absol'te
d'ty re,'ires -re$isely that he sho'ld gi+e the& '-) The tragi$ hero a--rehended a
higher e/-ression o# d'ty b't not an absol'te d'ty)
8# he $annot do that he is in te&-tation (.nfechtung)) 8n the ne/t -la$e he has eno'gh
-assion to &ake this ass'ran$e a+ailable in the twinkling o# an eye and in s'$h a way
that it is as $o&-letely +alid as it was in the #irst instan$e) 8# he is 'nable to do this he
$an ne+er b'dge #ro& the s-ot #or he $onstantly has to begin all o+er again) The
tragi$ hero also $on$entrated in one #a$tor the ethi$al whi$h he teleologi$ally
s'r-assed b't in this res-e$t he had s'--ort in the 'ni+ersal) The knight o# #aith has
only hi&sel# alone and this $onstit'tes the dread#'lness o# the sit'ation) <ost &en
li+e in s'$h a way 'nder an ethi$al obligation that they $an let the sorrow be s'##i$ient
#or the day b't they ne+er rea$h this -assionate $on$entration this energeti$
$ons$io'sness) The 'ni+ersal &ay in a $ertain sense hel- the tragi$ hero to attain this
b't the knight o# #aith is le#t all to hi&sel#) The hero does the deed and #inds re-ose in
the 'ni+ersal the knight o# #aith is ke-t in $onstant tension) 4ga&e&non gi+es '-
8-higenia and thereby has #o'nd re-ose in the 'ni+ersal then he takes the ste- o#
sa$ri#i$ing her) 8# 4ga&e&non does not &ake the in#inite &o+e&ent i# his so'l at the
de$isi+e instant instead o# ha+ing -assionate $on$entration is absorbed by the
$o&&on twaddle that he had se+eral da'ghters and vie&&eicht 6-erha-s? the
.usserordent&iche 6e/traordinary? &ight o$$'r D then he is o# $o'rse not a hero b't a
hos-ital.$ase) The hero=s $on$entration 4braha& also has e+en tho'gh in his $ase it is
#ar &ore di##i$'lt sin$e he has no s'--ort in the 'ni+ersal 0 b't he &akes one &ore
&o+e&ent by whi$h he $on$entrates his so'l '-on the &ira$le) 8# 4braha& did not do
43
that he is only an 4ga&e&non D i# in any way it is -ossible to e/-lain how he $an be
>'sti#ied in sa$ri#i$ing 8saa$ when thereby no -ro#it a$$r'es to the 'ni+ersal)
Whether the indi+id'al is in te&-tation (.nfechtung) or is a knight o# #aith only the
indi+id'al $an de$ide) %e+ertheless it is -ossible to $onstr'$t #ro& the -arado/
se+eral $riteria whi$h he too $an 'nderstand who is not within the -arado/) The tr'e
knight o# #aith is always absol'te isolation the #alse knight is se$tarian) This
se$tarianis& is an atte&-t to lea- away #ro& the narrow -ath o# the -arado/ and
be$o&e a tragi$ hero at a $hea- -ri$e) The tragi$ hero e/-resses the 'ni+ersal and
sa$ri#i$es hi&sel# #or it) The se$tarian -'n$hinello instead o# that has a -ri+ate
theatre i)e) se+eral good #riends and $o&rades who re-resent the 'ni+ersal >'st abo't
as well as the beadles in The Go&den Snuffbo* re-resent >'sti$e) The knight o# #aith on
the $ontrary is the -arado/ is the indi+id'al absol'tely nothing b't the indi+id'al
witho't $onne$tions or -retensions) This is the terrible thing whi$h the se$tarian
&anikin $annot end're) Cor instead o# learning #ro& this terror that he is not $a-able
o# -er#or&ing the great deed and then -lainly ad&itting it (an a$t whi$h 8 $annot b't
a--ro+e be$a'se it is what 8 do) the &anikin thinks that by 'niting with se+eral other
&anikins he will be able to do it) 2't that is ,'ite o't o# the ,'estion) 8n the world o#
s-irit no swindling is tolerated) 4 do(en se$taries >oin ar&s with one another they
know nothing whate+er o# the lonely te&-tations whi$h await the knight o# #aith and
whi$h he dares not sh'n -re$isely be$a'se it wo'ld be still &ore dread#'l i# he were to
-ress #orward -res'&-t'o'sly) The se$taries dea#en one another by their noise and
ra$ket hold the dread o## by their shrieks and s'$h a hallooing $o&-any o# s-orts&en
think they are stor&ing hea+en and think they are on the sa&e -ath as the kight o#
#aith who in the solit'de o# the 'ni+erse ne+er hears any h'&an +oi$e b't walks alone
with his dread#'l res-onsibility)
The knight o# #aith is obliged to rely '-on hi&sel# alone he #eels the -ain o# not being
able to &ake hi&sel# intelligible to others b't he #eels no +ain desire to g'ide others)
The -ain is his ass'ran$e that he is in the right way this +ain desire he does not know
he is too serio's #or that) The #alse knight o# #aith readily betrays hi&sel# by this
-ro#i$ien$y in g'iding whi$h he has a$,'ired in an instant) :e does not $o&-rehend
what it is all abo't that i# another indi+id'al is to take the sa&e -ath he &'st be$o&e
entirely in the sa&e way the indi+id'al and ha+e no need o# any &an=s g'idan$e least
o# all the g'idan$e o# a &an who wo'ld obtr'de hi&sel#) 4t this -oint &en lea- aside
they $annot bear the &artyrdo& o# being 'n$o&-rehended and instead o# this they
$hoose $on+eniently eno'gh the worldly ad&iration o# their -ro#i$ien$y) The tr'e
knight o# #aith is a witness ne+er a tea$her and therein lies his dee- h'&anity whi$h
is worth a good deal &ore than this silly -arti$i-ation in others= weal and woe whi$h
is honored by the na&e o# sy&-athy whereas in #a$t it is nothing b't +anity) :e who
wo'ld only be a witness thereby a+ows that no &an not e+en the lowliest needs
another &an=s sy&-athy or sho'ld be abased that another &ay be e/alted) 2't sin$e
he did not win what he won at a $hea- -ri$e neither does he sell it o't at a $hea-
-ri$e he is not -etty eno'gh to take &en=s ad&iration and gi+e the& in ret'rn his
silent $onte&-t he knows that what is tr'ly great is e,'ally a$$essible to all)
*ither there is an absol'te d'ty toward 9od and i# so it is the -arado/ here des$ribed
that the indi+id'al as the indi+id'al is higher than the 'ni+ersal and as the indi+id'al
stands in an absol'te relation to the absol'teSor else #aith ne+er e/isted be$a'se it has
44
always e/isted or to -'t it di##erently 4braha& is lost or one &'st e/-lain the
-assage in the #o'rteenth $ha-ter o# L'ke as did that taste#'l e/egete and e/-lain in
the sa&e way the $orres-onding -assages and si&ilar ones)
"roble& 888
Was 4braha& ethi$ally de#ensible in kee-ing silent abo't his -'r-ose be#ore Sarah
be#ore *lea(ar be#ore 8saa$ F
The ethi$al as s'$h is the 'ni+ersal again as the 'ni+ersal it is the &ani#est the
re+ealed) The indi+id'al regarded as he is i&&ediately that is as a -hysi$al and
-sy$hi$al being is the hidden the $on$ealed) So his ethi$al task is to de+elo- o't o#
this $on$eal&ent and to re+eal hi&sel# in the 'ni+ersal) :en$e whene+er he wills to
re&ain in $on$eal&ent he sins and lies in te&-tation (.nfechtung) o't o# whi$h he
$an $o&e only by re+ealing hi&sel#)
With this we are ba$k again at the sa&e -oint) 8# there is not a $on$eal&ent whi$h has
its gro'nd in the #a$t that the indi+id'al as the indi+id'al is higher than the 'ni+ersal
then 4braha&=s $ond'$t is inde#ensible #or he -aid no heed to the inter&ediate
ethi$al deter&inants) 8# on the other hand there is s'$h a $on$eal&ent we are in the
-resen$e o# the -arado/ whi$h $annot be &ediated inas&'$h as it rests '-on the
$onsideration that the indi+id'al as the indi+id'al is higher than the 'ni+ersal b't it is
the 'ni+ersal -re$isely whi$h is &ediation) The :egelian -hiloso-hy holds that there
is no >'sti#ied $on$eal&ent no >'sti#ied in$o&&ens'rability) So it is sel#.$onsistent
when it re,'ires re+elation b't it is not warranted in regarding 4braha& as the #ather
o# #aith and in talking abo't #aith) Cor #aith is not the #irst i&&edia$y b't a s'bse,'ent
i&&edia$y) The #irst i&&edia$y is the aestheti$al and abo't this the :egelian
-hiloso-hy &ay be in the right) 2't #aith is not the aestheti$al D or else #aith has ne+er
e/isted be$a'se it has always e/isted)
8t will be best to regard the whole &atter #ro& a -'rely aestheti$al -oint o# +iew and
with that intent to e&bark '-on an aestheti$ deliberation to whi$h 8 beg the reader to
abandon hi&sel# $o&-letely #or the &o&ent while 8 to $ontrib'te &y share will
&odi#y &y -resentation in $on#or&ity with the s'b>e$t) The $ategory 8 wo'ld $onsider
a little &ore $losely is the interesting a $ategory whi$h es-e$ially in o'r age
(-re$isely be$a'se o'r age li+es in discrimine rerum) 6at a t'rning -oint in history?
has a$,'ired great i&-ortan$e #or it is -ro-erly the $ategory o# the t'rning.-oint)
There#ore we a#ter ha+ing lo+ed this $ategory pro viri&i 6with all o'r -ower? sho'ld
not s$orn it as so&e do be$a'se we ha+e o'tgrown it b't neither sho'ld we be too
greedy to attain it #or $ertain it is that to be interesting or to ha+e an interesting li#e is
not a task #or ind'strial art b't a #ate#'l -ri+ilege whi$h like e+ery -ri+ilege in the
world o# s-irit is bo'ght only by dee- -ain) Th's #or e/a&-le So$rates was the &ost
interesting &an that e+er li+ed his li#e the &ost interesting that has been re$orded b't
this e/isten$e was alloted to hi& by the Deity and in so #ar as he hi&sel# had to
4H
a$,'ire it he was not 'na$,'ainted with tro'ble and -ain) To take s'$h a li#e in +ain
does not besee& a &an who takes li#e serio'sly and yet it is not rare to see in o'r age
e/a&-les o# s'$h an endea+or) <oreo+er the interesting is a border.$ategory a
bo'ndary between aestheti$s and ethi$s) Cor this reason o'r deliberation &'st
$onstantly glan$e o+er into the #ield o# ethi$s while in order to be able to a$,'ire
signi#i$an$e it &'st gras- the -roble& with aestheti$ intensity and $on$'-is$en$e)
With s'$h &atters ethi$s seldo& deals in o'r age) The reason is s'--osed to be that
there is no a--ro-riate -la$e #or it in the Syste&) Then s'rely one &ight do it in a
&onogra-h and &oreo+er i# one wo'ld not do it -roli/ly one &ight do it brie#ly and
yet attain the sa&e end D i# that is to say a &an has the -redi$ate in his -ower #or
one or two -redi$ates $an betray a whole world) <ight there not be so&e -la$e in the
Syste& #or a little word like the -redi$ate F
8n his i&&ortal #oetics (Kha-ter 11) 4ristotle says d=o m>n o?n to? m=qou m@rh
perA ta?t1 e1st<, perip@teia kaA a1nagnw1risiv) 8 a& o# $o'rse $on$erned here only with
the se$ond #a$tor a=nagnw=risi+ re$ognition) Where there $an be ,'estion o# a
re$ognition there is i&-lied eo ipso a -re+io's $on$eal&ent) So >'st as re$ognition is
the relie+ing the rela/ing #a$tor in the dra&ati$ li#e so is $on$eal&ent the #a$tor o#
tension) What 4ristotle has to say in the sa&e $ha-ter abo't the &erits o# tragedy
whi$h are +ario'sly a--raised in -ro-ortion as perip@teia and a1nagnw1risiv i&-inge
'-on one another and also what he says abo't the 1 indi+id'al 3 and the 1 do'ble
re$ognition 3 8 $annot take into $onsideration here altho'gh by its inwardness and
,'iet $on$entration what he says is -e$'liarly te&-ting to one who is weary o# the
s'-er#i$ial o&nis$ien$e o# en$y$lo-edi$ s$holars) 4 &ore general obser+ation &ay be
a--ro-riate here) 8n 9reek tragedy $on$eal&ent (and $onse,'ently re$ognition) is an
e-i$ s'r+i+al gro'nded '-on a #ate in whi$h the dra&ati$ a$tion disa--ears #ro& +iew
and #ro& whi$h it deri+es its obs$'re and enig&ati$ origin) :en$e it is that the e##e$t
-rod'$ed by a 9reek tragedy is like the i&-ression o# a &arble stat'e whi$h la$ks the
-ower o# the eye) 9reek tragedy is blind) :en$e a $ertain abstra$tion is ne$essary in
order to a--re$iate it -ro-erly) 4 son &'rders his #ather b't only a#terwards does he
learn that it was his #ather) 4 sister wants to sa$ri#i$e her brother b't at the de$isi+e
&o&ent she learns who he is) This dra&ati$ &oti+e is not so a-t to interest o'r
ref&ective age) <odern dra&a has gi+en '- #ate has e&an$i-ated itsel# dra&ati$ally
sees with its eyes s$r'tini(es itsel# resol+es #ate in its dra&ati$ $ons$io'sness)
Kon$eal&ent and re+elation are in this $ase the hero=s #ree a$t #or whi$h he is
res-onsible)
7e$ognition and $on$eal&ent are also -resent as an essential ele&ent in &odern
dra&a) To add'$e e/a&-les o# this wo'ld be too -roli/) 8 a& $o'rteo's eno'gh to
ass'&e that e+erybody in o'r age whi$h is so aestheti$ally wanton so -otent and so
en#la&ed that the a$t o# $on$e-tion $o&es as easy to it as to the -artridge hen whi$h
a$$ording to 4ristotle=s a##ir&ation needs only to hear the +oi$e o# the $o$k or the
so'nd o# its #light o+erhead D 8 ass'&e that e+eryone &erely '-on hearing the word
1 $on$eal&ent 3 will be able to shake hal# a s$ore o# ro&an$es and $o&edies o't o#
his slee+e) Where#ore 8 e/-ress &ysel# brie#ly and so will throw o't at on$e a general
obser+ation) 8n $ase one who -lays hide and seek (and thereby introd'$es into the
-lay the dra&ati$ #er&ent) hides so&ething nonsensi$al we get a $o&edy 0 i# on the
other hand he stands in relation to the idea he &ay $o&e near being a tragi$ hero) 8
4B
gi+e here &erely an e/a&-le o# the $o&i$) 4 &an ro'ges his #a$e and wears a
-eriwig) The sa&e &an is eager to try his #ort'ne with the #air se/ he is -er#e$tly s're
o# $on,'ering by the aid o# the ro'ge and the -eriwig whi$h &ake hi& absol'tely
irresistible) :e $a-t'res a girl and is at the a$&e o# ha--iness) %ow $o&es the gist o#
the &atter J i# he is able to ad&it this e&bellish&ent he does not lose all o# his
in#at'ating -ower 0 when he re+eals hi&sel# as a -lain ordinary &an and bald at that
he does not thereby lose the lo+ed one) D Kon$eal&ent is his #ree a$t #or whi$h
aestheti$s also holds hi& res-onsible) This s$ien$e is no #riend o# bald hy-o$rites it
abandons hi& to the &er$y o# la'ghter) This &'st s'##i$e as a &ere hint o# what 8
&ean D the $o&i$al $annot be a s'b>e$t o# interest #or this in+estigation)
8t is in$'&bent '-on &e to e/a&ine diale$ti$ally the -art -layed by $on$eal&ent in
aestheti$s and ethi$s #or the -oint is to show the absol'te di##eren$e between the
aestheti$ $on$eal&ent and the -arado/)
4 $o'-le o# e/a&-les) 4 girl is se$retly in lo+e with a &an altho'gh they ha+e not
de#initely a+owed their lo+e to one another) :er -arents $o&-el her to &arry another
(there &ay be &oreo+er a $onsideration o# #ilial -iety whi$h deter&ines her) she
obeys her -arents she $on$eals her lo+e 1 so as not to &ake the other 'nha--y and
no one will e+er know what she s'##ers) 3 D 4 yo'ng &an is able by a single word to
get -ossession o# the ob>e$t o# his longings and his restless drea&s) This little word
howe+er will $o&-ro&ise yea -erha-s (who knows F) bring to r'in a whole #a&ily
he resol+es &agnani&o'sly to re&ain in his $on$eal&ent 1 the girl shall ne+er get to
know it so that she &ay -erha-s be$o&e ha--y by gi+ing her hand to another) 3 What
a -ity that these two -ersons both o# who& were $on$ealed #ro& their res-e$ti+e
belo+eds were also $on$ealed #ro& one another otherwise a re&arkable higher 'nity
&ight ha+e been bro'ght abo't) D Their $on$eal&ent is a #ree a$t #or whi$h they are
res-onsible also to aestheti$s) 4estheti$s howe+er is a $o'rteo's and senti&ental
s$ien$e whi$h knows o# &ore e/-edients than a -awnbroker) So what does it do F 8t
&akes e+erything -ossible #or the lo+ers) 2y the hel- o# a $han$e the -artners to the
-ro>e$ted &arriage get a hint o# the &agnani&o's resol'tion o# the other -art it
$o&es to an e/-lanation they get one another and at the sa&e ti&e attain rank with
real heroes) Cor in s-ite o# the #a$t that they did not e+en get ti&e to slee- o+er their
resol'tion aestheti$s treats the& ne+ertheless as i# they had $o'rageo'sly #o'ght #or
their resol'tion d'ring &any years) Cor aestheti$s does not tro'ble itsel# greatly abo't
ti&e whether in >est or serio'sness ti&e #lies e,'ally #ast #or it)
2't ethi$s knows nothing abo't that $han$e or abo't that senti&entality nor has it so
s-eedy a $on$e-t o# ti&e) Thereby the &atter re$ei+es a di##erent as-e$t) 8t is no good
arg'ing with ethi$s #or it has -'re $ategories) 8t does not a--eal to e/-erien$e whi$h
o# all l'di$ro's things is the &ost l'di$ro's and whi$h so #ar #ro& &aking a &an
wise rather &akes hi& &ad i# he knows nothing higher than this) *thi$s has in its
-ossession no $han$e and so &atters do not $o&e to an e/-lanation it does not >est
with dignities it lays a -rodigio's res-onsibility '-on the sho'lders o# the -'ny hero
it deno'n$es as -res'&-tion his wanting to -lay -ro+iden$e by his a$tions b't it also
deno'n$es hi& #or wanting to do it by his s'##ering) 8t bids a &an belie+e in reality
and ha+e $o'rage to #ight against all the a##li$tions o# reality and still &ore against
the bloodless s'##erings he has ass'&ed on his own res-onsibility) 8t warns against
belie+ing the $al$'lations o# the 'nderstanding whi$h are &ore -er#idio's than the
4A
ora$les o# an$ient ti&es) 8t warns agt'nst e+ery 'nti&ely &agnani&ity) Let reality
de$ide D then is the ti&e to show $o'rage b't then ethi$s itsel# o##ers all -ossible
assistan$e) 8# howe+er there was so&ething dee-er whi$h &o+ed in these two i#
there was serio'sness to see the task serio'sness to $o&&en$e it then so&ething will
$o&e o# the& 0 b't ethi$s $annot hel- it is o##ended #or they kee- a se$ret #ro& it a
se$ret they hold at their own -eril)
So aestheti$s re,'ired $on$eal&ent and rewarded it ethi$s re,'ired re+elation and
-'nished $on$eal&ent)
4t ti&es howe+er e+en aestheti$s re,'ires re+elation) When the hero ensnared in the
aestheti$ ill'sion thinks by his silen$e to sa+e another &an then it re,'ires silen$e
and rewards it) En the other hand when the hero by his a$tion inter+enes dist'rbingly
in another &an=s li#e then it re,'ires re+elation) 8 a& now on the s'b>e$t o# the tragi$
hero) 8 wo'ld $onsider #or a &o&ent *'ri-ides= /phigenia in .u&is) 4ga&e&non &'st
sa$ri#i$e 8-higenia) %ow aestheti$s re,'ires silen$e o# 4ga&e&non inas&'$h as it
wo'ld be 'nworthy o# the hero to seek $o&#ort #ro& any other &an and o't o#
soli$it'de #or the wo&en too he o'ght to $on$eal this #ro& the& as long as -ossible)
En the other hand the hero -re$isely in order to be a hero &'st be tried by dread#'l
te&-tations whi$h the tears o# Klyte&nestra and 8-higenia -ro+ide #or hi&) What
does aestheti$s do F 8t has an e/-edient it has in readiness an old ser+ant who re+eals
e+erything to Klyte&nestra) Then all is as it sho'ld be)
*thi$s howe+er has at hand no $han$e and no old ser+ant) The aestheti$al idea
$ontradi$ts itsel# as soon as it &'st be $arried o't in reality) :en$e ethi$s re,'ires
re+elation) The tragi$ hero dis-lays his ethi$al $o'rage -re$isely by the #a$t that it is
he who witho't being ensnared in any aestheti$ ill'sion hi&sel# anno'n$es to
8-higenia her #ate) 8# the tragi$ hero does this then he is the belo+ed son o# ethi$s in
who& it is well -leased) 8# he kee-s silent it &ay be be$a'se he thinks thereby to
&ake it easier #or others b't it &ay also be be$a'se thereby he &akes it easier #or
hi&sel#) :owe+er he knows that he is not in#l'en$ed by this latter &oti+e) 8# he kee-s
silent he ass'&es as the indi+id'al a serio's res-onsibility inas&'$h as he ignores an
arg'&ent whi$h &ay $o&e #ro& witho't) 4s a tragi$ hero he $annot do this #or ethi$s
lo+es hi& -re$isely be$a'se he $onstantly e/-resses the 'ni+ersal) :is heroi$ a$tion
de&ands $o'rage b't it belongs to this $o'rage that he shall sh'n no arg'&entation)
%ow it is $ertain that tears are a dread#'l argumentum ad hominem and do'btless
there are those who are &o+ed by nothing yet are to'$hed by tears) 8n the -lay
8-higenia had lea+e to wee- really she o'ght to ha+e been allowed like Je-hthah=s
da'ghter two &onths #or wee-ing not in solit'de b't at her #ather=s #eet allowed to
e&-loy all her art 1 whi$h is b't tears 3 and to twine abo't his knees instead o#
-resenting the oli+e bran$h o# the s'--liant)
4estheti$s re,'ired re+elation b't hel-ed itsel# o't by a $han$e 0 ethi$s re,'ired
re+elation and #o'nd in the tragi$ hero its satis#a$tion)
8n s-ite o# the se+erity with whi$h ethi$s re,'ires re+elation it $annot be denied that
se$re$y and silen$e really &ake a &an great -re$isely be$a'se they are $hara$teristi$s
o# inwardness) When 4&or lea+es "sy$he he says to her 1 Tho' shalt gi+e birth to a
$hild whi$h will be a di+ine in#ant i# tho' dost kee- silen$e b't a h'&an being i# tho'
dost re+eal the se$ret) 3 The tragi$ hero who is the #a+orite o# ethi$s is the -'rely
48
h'&an and hi& 8 $an 'nderstand and all he does is in the light o# the re+ealed) 8# 8 go
#'rther then 8 st'&ble '-on the -arado/ either the di+ine or the de&onia$ #or silen$e
is both) Silen$e is the snare o# the de&on and the &ore one kee-s silent the &ore
terri#ying the de&on be$o&es 0 b't silen$e is also the &'t'al 'nderstanding between
the Deity and the indi+id'al)
2e#ore going on to the story o# 4braha& howe+er 8 wo'ld $all be#ore the $'rtain
se+eral -oeti$ -ersonages) 2y the -ower o# diale$ti$ 8 kee- the& '-on ti-toe and by
wielding o+er the& the s$o'rge o# des-air 8 shall s'rely kee- the& #ro& standing still
in order that in their dread they &ay re+eal one thing and another)M
MThese &o+e&ents and attit'des &ight well be a s'b>e$t #or #'rther aestheti$
treat&ent) :owe+er 8 lea+e it 'nde$ided to what e/tent #aith and the whole li#e o#
#aith &ight be a #it s'b>e$t #or s'$h treat&ent) Enly be$a'se it is always a >oy to &e
to thank hi& to who& 8 a& indebted 8 wo'ld thank Lessing #or so&e hints o# a
Khristian dra&a whi$h is #o'nd in his "amburgische 'ramaturgie) :e howe+er
#i/ed his glan$e '-on the -'rely di+ine side o# the Khristian li#e (the $ons'&&ated
+i$tory) and hen$e he had &isgi+ings 0 -erha-s he wo'ld ha+e e/-ressed a di##erent
>'dg&ent i# he had -aid &ore attention to the -'rely h'&an side (theo&ogia viatorum))
Do'btless what he says is +ery brie# in -art e+asi+e b't sin$e 8 a& always glad to
ha+e the $o&-any o# Lessing 8 sei(e it at on$e) Lessing was not &erely one o# the
&ost $o&-rehensi+e &inds 9er&any has had he not only was -ossessed o# rare
e/a$tit'de in his learning (#or whi$h reason one $an se$'rely rely '-on hi& and '-on
his a'to-sy witho't #ear o# being d'-ed by ina$$'rate ,'otations whi$h $an be tra$ed
nowhere by hal#.'nderstood -hrases whi$h are drawn #ro& 'ntr'stworthy
$o&-endi'&s or to be disoriented by a #oolish tr'&-eting o# no+elties whi$h the
an$ients ha+e e/-o'nded #ar better) b't he -ossessed at the sa&e ti&e an e/$eedingly
'n$o&&on gi#t o# e/-laining what he hi&sel# had 'nderstood) There he sto--ed) 8n
o'r age -eo-le go #'rther and e/-lain &ore than they ha+e 'nderstood)
8n his #oetics 4ristotle relates a story o# a -oliti$al dist'rban$e at Del-hi whi$h was
-ro+oked by a ,'estion o# &arriage) The bridegroom, when the augurs forete&& to him
that a misfortune wou&d fo&&ow his marriage, sudden& changes his p&an at the
decisive moment when he comes to fetch the bride D he will not $elebrate the wedding)
8 ha+e no need o# &ore)M
M4$$ording to 4ristotle the histori$ $atastro-he was as #ollows) To a+enge the&sel+es
the #a&ily o# the bride introd'$ed a te&-le.+essel a&ong his ho'sehold goods and he
is senten$ed as a te&-le.robber) This howe+er is o# no $onse,'en$e #or the ,'estion
is not whether the #a&ily is shrewd or st'-id in taking re+enge) The #a&ily has an
ideal signi#i$an$e only in so #ar as it is drawn into the diale$ti$ o# the hero) 2esides it
is #ate#'l eno'gh that he when he wo'ld sh'n danger by not &arrying -l'nges into it
and also that his li#e $o&es into $onta$t with the di+ine in a do'ble way J #irst by the
saying o# the a'g'rs and then by being $onde&ned #or sa$rilege)
4!
8n Del-hi this e+ent hardly -assed witho't tears 0 i# a -oet were to ha+e ado-ted it as
his the&e he &ight ha+e dared to $o'nt +ery s'rely '-on sy&-athy) 8s it not dread#'l
that lo+e whi$h in h'&an li#e o#ten eno'gh was $ast into e/ile is now de-ri+ed o# the
s'--ort o# hea+en F 8s not the old -ro+erb that 1 &arriages are &ade in hea+en 3 here
-'t to sha&e F Ns'ally it is all the a##li$tions and di##i$'lties o# the #inite whi$h like
e+il s-irits se-arate the lo+ers b't lo+e has hea+en on its side and there#ore this holy
allian$e o+er$o&es all ene&ies) 8n this $ase it is hea+en itsel# whi$h se-arates what
hea+en itsel# has >oined together) 4nd who wo'ld ha+e g'essed s'$h a thing F The
yo'ng bride least o# all) Enly a &o&ent be#ore she was sitting in her $ha&ber in all
her bea'ty and the lo+ely &aidens had $ons$ientio'sly adorned her so that they $o'ld
>'sti#y be#ore all the world what they had done so that they not &erely deri+ed >oy
#ro& it b't en+y yea >oy #or the #a$t that it was not -ossible #or the& to be$o&e &ore
en+io's be$a'se it was not -ossible #or her to be$o&e &ore bea'ti#'l) She sat alone
in her $ha&ber and was trans#or&ed #ro& bea'ty 'nto bea'ty #or e+ery &eans was
e&-loyed that #e&inine art was $a-able o# to adorn worthily the worthy) 2't there
still was la$king so&ething whi$h the yo'ng &aidens had not drea&ed o# J a +eil
#iner lighter and yet &ore i&-enetrable than that in whi$h the yo'ng &aidens had
en+elo-ed her a bridal dress whi$h no yo'ng &aiden knew o# or $o'ld hel- her to
obtain yea e+en the bride hersel# did not know how to obtain it) 8t was an in+isible a
#riendly -ower taking -leas're in adorning a bride whi$h en+elo-ed her in it witho't
her knowledge 0 #or she saw only how the bridegroo& -assed by and went '- to the
te&-le) She saw the door sh't behind hi& and she be$a&e e+en &ore $al& and
bliss#'l #or she only knew that he now belonged to her &ore than e+er) The door o#
the te&-le o-ened he ste--ed o't b't &aidenly she $ast down her eyes and there#ore
did not see that his $o'ntenan$e was tro'bled b't he saw that hea+en was >ealo's o#
the bride=s lo+eliness and o# his good #ort'ne) The door o# the te&-le o-ened and the
yo'ng &aidens saw the bridegroo& ste- o't b't they did not see that his $o'ntenan$e
was tro'bled they were b'sy #et$hing the bride) Then #orth she ste--ed in all her
&aidenly &odesty and yet like a ,'een s'rro'nded by her &aids o# honor who bowed
be#ore her as the yo'ng &aiden always bows be#ore a bride) Th's she stood at the
head o# her lo+ely band and waited D it was only an instant #or the te&-le was near at
hand D and the bridegroo& $a&e ; b't he -assed by her door)
2't here 8 break o## D 8 a& not a -oet 8 go abo't things only diale$ti$ally) 8t &'st be
re&e&bered #irst o# all that it is at the de$isi+e instant the hero gets this el'$idation
so he is -'re and bla&eless has not light.&indedly tied hi&sel# to the #ian$Pe) 8n the
ne/t -la$e he has a di+ine 'tteran$e #or hi& or rather against hi& he is there#ore not
g'ided like those -'ny lo+ers by his own $on$eit) <oreo+er it goes witho't saying
that this 'tteran$e &akes hi& >'st as 'nha--y as the bride yea a little &ore so sin$e
he a#ter all is the o$$asion o# her 'nha--iness) 8t is tr'e eno'gh that the a'g'rs only
#oretold a &is#ort'ne to him b't the ,'estion is whether this &is#ort'ne is not o# s'$h
a sort that in in>'ring hi& it wo'ld also a##e$t in>'rio'sly their $on>'gal ha--iness)
What then is he to do F (1) Shall he -reser+e silen$e and $elebrate the wedding F D
with the tho'ght that 1 -erha-s the &is#ort'ne will not $o&e at on$e at any rate 8
ha+e '-held lo+e and ha+e not #eared to &ake &ysel# 'nha--y) 2't kee- silent 8 &'st
#or otherwise e+en the short &o&ent is wasted) 3 This see&s -la'sible b't it is not so
by any &eans #or in doing this he has ins'lted the girl) :e has in a way &ade the girl
HL
g'ilty by his silen$e #or in $ase she had known the tr'th she ne+er wo'ld ha+e
$onsented to s'$h a 'nion) So in the ho'r o# need he wo'ld not only ha+e to bear the
&is#ort'ne b't also the res-onsibility #or ha+ing ke-t silent and her >'sti#ied
indignation that he had ke-t silent) Er (@) shall he kee- silent and gi+e '- $elebrating
the wedding F 8n this $ase he &'st e&broil hi&sel# in a &ysti#i$tition by whi$h he
red'$es hi&sel# to na'ght in relation to her) 4estheti$s wo'ld -erha-s a--ro+e o# this)
The $atastro-he &ight then be #ashioned like that o# the real story e/$e-t that at the
last instant an e/-lanation wo'ld be #orth$o&ing D howe+er that wo'ld be a#ter it was
all o+er sin$e aestheti$ally +iewed it is a ne$essity to let hi& die ; 'nless this
s$ien$e sho'ld see its way to ann'l the #ate#'l -ro-he$y) Still this beha+ior
&agnani&o's as it is i&-lies an o##ense against the girl and against the reality o# her
lo+e) Er (3) shall he s-eak F Ene o# $o'rse &'st not #orget that o'r hero is a little too
-oeti$al #or 's to s'--ose that to sign away his lo+e &ight not ha+e #or hi& a
signi#i$an$e +ery di##erent #ro& the res'lt o# an 'ns'$$ess#'l b'siness s-e$'lation) 8#
he s-eaks the whole thing be$o&es a story o# 'nha--y lo+e in the style o# 4/el and
Galborg)M
M<oreo+er #ro& this -oint one &ight $ond'$t the diale$ti$al &o+e&ents in another
dire$tion) :ea+en #oretells a &is#ort'ne $onse,'ent '-on his &arriage so in #a$t he
&ight gi+e '- the wedding b't not #or this reason gi+e '- the girl rather li+e with her
in a ro&anti$ 'nion whi$h #or the lo+ers wo'ld be &ore than satis#a$tory) This
i&-lies howe+er an o##ense against the girl be$a'se in his lo+e #or her he does not
e/-ress the 'ni+ersal) :owe+er this wo'ld be a the&e both #or a -oet and #or an
ethi$ist who wo'ld de#end &arriage) En the whole i# -oetry were to -ay attention to
the religio's and to the inwardness o# -ersonalities it wo'ld #ind the&es o# #ar greater
i&-ortan$e than those with whi$h it now b'sies itsel#) 8n -oetry one hears again and
again this story J a &an is bo'nd to a girl who& he on$e lo+ed D or -erha-s ne+er
sin$erely lo+ed #or now he has seen another girl who is the ideal) 4 &an &akes a
&istake in li#e it was in the right street b't it was in the wrong ho'se #or o--osite on
the se$ond #loor dwells the ideal D this -eo-le think a the&e #or -oetry) 4 lo+er has
&ade a &istake he saw his #ian$Pe by la&-light and tho'ght she had dark hair b't
lo on $loser ins-e$tion she is blonde D b't her sister she is the ideal 5 This they think
is a the&e #or -oetry 5 <y o-inion is that e+ery s'$h &an is a lo't who &ay be
intolerable eno'gh in real li#e b't o'ght instantly to be hissed o## the stage when he
wo'ld gi+e hi&sel# airs in -oetry) Enly -assion against -assion -ro+ides a -oeti$
$ollision not the r'&-'s o# these -arti$'lars within the sa&e -assion) 8# #or e/a&-le
a girl in the <iddle 4ges a#ter ha+ing #allen in lo+e $on+in$es hersel# that all earthly
lo+e is a sin and -re#ers a hea+enly here is a -oeti$ $ollision and the girl is -oeti$ #or
her li#e is in the idea)
This is a -air whi$h hea+en itsel# se-arates) :owe+er in the -resent $ase the
se-aration is to be $on$ei+ed so&ewhat di##erently sin$e it res'lts at the sa&e ti&e
#ro& the #ree a$t o# the indi+id'als) What is so +ery di##i$'lt in the diale$ti$ o# this
$ase is that the &is#ort'ne is to #all only '-on hi&) So the two lo+ers do not #ind like
4/el and Galborg a $o&&on e/-ression #or their s'##ering inas&'$h as hea+en le+els
H1
its de$ree e,'ally against 4/el and Galborg be$a'se they are e,'ally near o# kin to
one another) 8# this were the $ase here a way o't wo'ld be thinkable) Cor sin$e
hea+en does not e&-loy any +isible -ower to se-arate the& b't lea+es this to the& it
is thinkable that they &ight resol+e between the& to de#y hea+en and its &is#ort'ne
too)
*thi$s howe+er will re,'ire hi& to s-eak) :is herois& then is essentially to be #o'nd
in the #a$t that he gi+es '- aestheti$ &agnani&ity whi$h in this $ase howe+er $o'ld
not easily be tho'ght to ha+e any ad&i/t're o# the +anity whi$h $onsists in being
hidden #or it &'st indeed be $lear to hi& that he &akes the girl 'nha--y) The reality
o# this herois& de-ends howe+er '-on the #a$t that he had had his o--ort'nity 6#or a
gen'ine lo+e? and ann'lled it 0 #or i# s'$h herois& $o'ld be a$,'ired witho't this we
sho'ld ha+e -lenty o# heroes in o'r age in o'r age whi$h has attained an 'n-aralleled
-ro#i$ien$y in #orgery and does the highest things by lea-ing o+er the inter&ediate
ste-s)
2't then why this sket$h sin$e 8 get no #'rther a#ter all than the tragi$ hero F Well
be$a'se it is at least -ossible that it &ight throw light '-on the -arado/) *+erything
de-ends '-on how this &an stands related to the 'tteran$e o# the a'g'rs whi$h is in
one way or another de$isi+e #or his li#e) 8s this 'tteran$e pub&ici %uris or is it a
privatissimum F The s$ene is laid in 9ree$e the 'tteran$e o# the a'g'r is intelligible
to all) 8 do not &ean &erely that the ordinary &an is able to 'nderstand its $ontent
le/i$ally b't that the ordinary &an $an 'nderstand that an a'g'r anno'n$es to the
indi+id'al the de$ision o# hea+en) So the 'tteran$e o# the a'g'r is not intelligible only
to the hero b't to all and no -ri+ate relationshi- to the deity res'lts #ro& it) Do what
he will that whi$h is #oretold will $o&e to -ass and neither by doing nor by lea+ing
'ndone does he $o&e into $loser relationshi- with the deity or be$o&e either the
ob>e$t o# its gra$e or o# its wrath) The res'lt #oretold is a thing whi$h any ordinary
&an will be >'st as well able as the hero to 'nderstand and there is no se$ret writing
whi$h is legible to the hero only) 8nas&'$h as he wo'ld s-eak he $an do so -er#e$tly
well #or he is able to &ake hi&sel# intelligible 0 inas&'$h as he wo'ld kee- silent it
is be$a'se by +irt'e o# being the indi+id'al he wo'ld be higher than the 'ni+ersal
wo'ld del'de hi&sel# with all sorts o# #antasti$ notions abo't how she will soon #orget
the sorrow et$) En the other hand in $ase the will o# hea+en had not been anno'n$ed
to hi& by an a'g'r in $ase it had $o&e to his knowledge in an entirely -ri+ate way in
$ase it had -'t itsel# into an entirely -ri+ate relationshi- with hi& then we en$o'nter
the -arado/ (s'--osing there is s'$h a thing D #or &y re#le$tion takes the #or& o# a
dile&&a) then he $o'ld not s-eak howe+er &'$h he &ight wish to) :e did not then
en>oy hi&sel# in the silen$e b't s'##ered -ain D b't this -re$isely was to hi& the
ass'ran$e that he was >'sti#ied) So the reason #or his silen$e is not that he as the
indi+id'al wo'ld -la$e hi&sel# in an absol'te relation to the universa& b't that he as
the indi+id'al was -la$ed in an absol'te relation to the abso&ute) 8n this then he wo'ld
also be able to #ind re-ose (as well as 8 a& able to #ig're it to &ysel#) whereas his
&agnani&o's silen$e wo'ld $onstantly ha+e been dis,'ieted by the re,'ire&ents o#
the ethi$al) 8t is +ery &'$h to be desired that aestheti$s wo'ld #or on$e essay to begin
at the -oint where #or so &any years it has ended with the ill'sory &agnani&ity)
En$e it were to do this it wo'ld work dire$tly in the interest o# the religio's #or
religion is the only -ower whi$h $an deli+er the aestheti$al o't o# its $on#li$t with the
H@
ethi$al) T'een *li(abeth sa$ri#i$ed to the State her lo+e #or *sse/ by signing his
death.warrant) This was a heroi$ a$t e+en i# there was in+ol+ed a little -ersonal
grie+an$e #or the #a$t that he had not sent her the ring) :e had in #a$t sent it as we
know b't it was ke-t ba$k by the &ali$e o# a lady o# the $o'rt) *li(abeth re$ei+ed
intelligen$e o# this (so it is related ni fa&&or) there'-on she sat #or ten days with one
#inger in her &o'th and bit it witho't saying a word and there'-on she died) This
wo'ld be a the&e #or a -oet who knew how to wren$h the &o'th o-en D witho't this
$ondition it is at the &ost ser+i$eable to a $ond'$tor o# the ballet with who& in o'r
ti&e the -oet too o#ten $on#'ses hi&sel#)
8 will #ollow this with a sket$h whi$h in+ol+es the de&onia$al) The legend o# .gnes
and the Merman will ser+e &y -'r-ose) The &er&an is a sed'$er who shoots '- #ro&
his hiding.-la$e in the abyss with wild l'st gras-s and breaks the inno$ent #lower
whi$h stood in all its gra$e on the seashore and -ensi+ely in$lined its head to listen to
the howling o# the o$ean) This is what the -oets hitherto ha+e &eant by it) Let 's
&ake an alteration) The &er&an was a sed'$er) :e had $alled to 4gnes had by his
s&ooth s-ee$h enti$ed #ro& her the hidden senti&ents she has #o'nd in the &er&an
what she so'ght what she was ga(ing a#ter down at the botto& o# the sea) 4gnes
wo'ld like to #ollow hi&) The &er&an has li#ted her '- in his ar&s 4gnes twines
abo't his ne$k with her whole so'l she tr'stingly abandons hersel# to the stronger
one 0 he already stands '-on the brink he leans o+er the sea abo't to -l'nge into it
with his -rey D then 4gnes looks at hi& on$e &ore not ti&idly not do'btingly not
-ro'd o# her good #ort'ne not into/i$ated by -leas're b't with absol'te #aith in hi&
with absol'te h'&ility like the lowly #lower she $on$ei+ed hersel# to be 0 by this look
she entr'sts to hi& with absol'te $on#iden$e her whole #ate) 4nd behold the sea
roars no &ore its +oi$e is &'te nat're=s -assion whi$h is the &er&an=s strength
lea+es hi& in the l'r$h a dead $al& ens'es D and still 4gnes $ontin'es to look at hi&
th's) Then the &er&an $olla-ses he is not able to resist the -ower o# inno$en$e his
nati+e ele&ent is 'n#aith#'l to hi& he $annot sed'$e 4gnes) :e leads her ba$k again
he e/-lains to her that he only wanted to show her how bea'ti#'l the sea is when it is
$al& and 4gnes belie+es hi&) D Then he t'rns ba$k alone and the sea rages b't
des-air in the &er&an rages &ore wildly) :e is able to sed'$e 4gnes he is able to
sed'$e a h'ndred 4gneses he is able to in#at'ate e+ery girl D b't 4gnes has
$on,'ered and the &er&an has lost her) Enly as a -rey $an she be$o&e his he $annot
belong #aith#'lly to any girl #or in #a$t he is only a &er&an) :ere 8 ha+e taken the
liberty o# &aking a little alterationM in the &er&an 0 s'bstantially 8 ha+e also altered
4gnes a little #or in the legend 4gnes is not entirely witho't #a'lt D and generally
s-eaking it is nonsense and $o,'etry and an ins'lt to the #e&inine se/ to i&agine a
$ase o# sed'$tion where the girl is not the least bit to bla&e)
MEne &ight also treat this legend in another way) The &er&an does not want to
sed'$e 4gnes altho'gh -re+io'sly he had sed'$ed &any) :e is no longer a &er&an
or i# one so will he is a &iserable &er&an who already has long been sitting on the
#loor o# the sea and sorrowing) :owe+er he knows (as the legend in #a$t tea$hes) that
he $an be deli+ered by the lo+e o# an inno$ent girl) 2't he has a bad $ons$ien$e with
res-e$t to girls and does not dare to a--roa$h the&) Then he sees 4gnes) 4lready
&any a ti&e when he was hidden in the reeds he had seen her walking on the shore)
H3
:er bea'ty her ,'iet o$$'-ation with hersel# #i/es his attention '-on her 0 b't only
sadness -re+ails in his so'l no wild desire stirs in it) 4nd so when the &er&an
&ingles his sighs with the so'ghing o# the reeds she t'rns her ear thither and then
stands still and #alls to drea&ing &ore $har&ing than any wo&an and yet bea'ti#'l as
a liberating angel whi$h ins-ires the &er&an with $on#iden$e) The &er&an -l'$ks '-
$o'rage he a--roa$hes 4gnes he wins her lo+e he ho-es #or his deli+eran$e) 2't
4gnes was no ,'iet &aiden she was #ond o# the roar o# the sea and the sad sighing
beside the inland lake -leased her only be$a'se then she seethed &ore strongly within)
She wo'ld be o## and away she wo'ld r'sh wildly o't into the in#inite with the
&er&an who& she lo+ed D so she in$ites the &e&&an) She disdained his h'&ility
now -ride awakens) 4nd the sea roars and the wa+es #oa& and the &er&an e&bra$es
4gnes and -l'nges with her into the dee-) %e+er had he been so wild ne+er so #'ll o#
desire #or he had ho-ed by this girl to #ind deli+eran$e) :e soon be$a&e tired o#
4gnes yet no one e+er #o'nd her $or-se #or she be$a&e a &er&aid who te&-ted
&en by her songs)
8n the legend 4gnes is (to &oderni(e &y e/-ression a little ) a wo&an who $ra+es
1 the interesting 3 and e+ery s'$h wo&an $an always be s're that there is a &errnan
in the o##ing #or with hal# an eye &er&en dis$o+er the like o# that and steer #or it like
a shark a#ter its -rey) 8t is there#ore +ery st'-id to s'--ose (or is it a r'&or whi$h a
&er&an has s-read abroad F) that the so.$alled $'lt're -rote$ts a girl against
sed'$tion) %o e/isten$e is &ore righteo's and #air J there is only one -rote$tion and
that is inno$en$e)
We will now bestow '-on the &er&an a h'&an $ons$io'sness and s'--ose that the
#a$t o# his being a &er&an indi$ates a h'&an -re.e/isten$e in the $onse,'en$es o#
whi$h his li#e is entangled) There is nothing to -re+ent hi& #ro& be$o&ing a hero #or
the ste- he now takes is one o# re$on$iliation) :e is sa+ed by 4gnes the sed'$er is
$r'shed he has bowed to the -ower o# inno$en$e he $an ne+er sed'$e again) 2't at
the sa&e instant two -owers are stri+ing #or -ossession o# hi& J re-entan$e 0 and
4gnes and re-entan$e) 8# re-entan$e alone takes -ossession o# hi& then he is hidden 0
i# 4gnes and re-entan$e take -ossession o# hi& then he is re+ealed)
%ow in $ase re-entan$e gri-s the &er&an and he re&ains $on$ealed he has $learly
&ade 4gnes 'nha--y #or 4gnes lo+ed hi& in all her inno$en$e she belie+ed that at
the instant when e+en to her he see&ed $hanged howe+er well he hid it he was
telling the tr'th in saying that he only wanted to show her the bea'ti#'l $al&ness o#
the sea) :owe+er with res-e$t to -assion the &er&an hi&sel# be$o&es still &ore
'nha--y #or he lo+ed 4gnes with a &'lti-li$ity o# -assions and had besides a new
g'ilt to bear) The de&onia$al ele&ent in re-entan$e will now e/-lain to hi& that this
is -re$isely his -'nish&ent 6#or the #a'lts o# his -re.e/istent state? and that the &ore
it tort'res hi& the better)
8# he abandons hi&sel# to this de&onia$al in#l'en$e he then -erha-s &akes still
another atte&-t to sa+e 4gnes in s'$h a way as one $an in a $ertain sense sa+e a
-erson by &eans o# the e+il) :e knows that 4gnes lo+es hi&) 8# he $o'ld wrest #ro&
4gnes this lo+e then in a way she is sa+ed) 2't how F The &er&an has too &'$h
sense to de-end '-on the notion that an o-en.hearted $on#ession wo'ld awaken her
H4
disg'st) :e will there#ore try -erha-s to in$ite in her all dark -assions will s$orn her
&o$k her hold '- her lo+e to ridi$'le i# -ossible he will stir '- her -ride) :e will not
s-are hi&sel# any tor&ent 0 #or this is the -ro#o'nd $ontradi$tion in the de&onia$al
and in a $ertain sense there dwells in#initely &ore good in a de&onia$ than in a tri+ial
-erson) The &ore sel#ish 4gnes is the easier the de$eit will -ro+e #or hi& (#or it is
only +ery ine/-erien$ed -eo-le who s'--ose that it is easy to de$ei+e inno$en$e 0
e/isten$e is +ery -ro#o'nd and it is in #a$t the easiest thing #or the shrewd to #ool the
shrewd) D b't all the &ore terrible will be the &er&an=s s'##erings) The &ore
$'nningly his de$eit is -lanned the less will 4gnes bash#'lly hide #ro& hi& her
s'##ering 0 she will resort to e+ery &eans nor will they be witho't e##e$t D not to
shake his resol'tion 8 &ean b't to tort're hi&)
So by hel- o# the de&onia$al the &er&an desires to be the indi+id'al who as the
indi+id'al is higher than the 'ni+ersal) The de&onia$al has the sa&e $hara$teristi$ as
the di+ine inas&'$h as the indi+id'al $an enter into an absol'te relation to it) This is
the analogy the $o'nter-art to that -arado/ o# whi$h we are talking) 8t has there#ore a
$ertain rese&blan$e whi$h &ay de$ei+e one) Th's the &er&an has a--arently the
-roo# that his silen$e is >'sti#ied #or the #a$t that by it he s'##ers all his -ain) :owe+er
there is no do'bt that he $an talk) :e $an th's be$o&e a tragi$ hero to &y &ind a
grandiose tragi$ hero i# he talks) So&e -erha-s will only 'nderstand wherein this is
grandiose)M
M4estheti$s so&eti&es treats a si&ilar s'b>e$t with its $'sto&ary $o,'etry) The
&er&an is sa+ed by 4gnes and the whole thing ends in a ha--y &arriage) 4 ha--y
&arriage 5 That=s easy eno'gh) En the other hand i# ethi$s were to deli+er the address
at the wedding ser+i$e it wo'ld be ,'ite another thing 8 i&agine) 4estheti$s throws
the $loak o# lo+e o+er the &er&an and so e+erything is #orgotten) 8t is also $areless
eno'gh to s'--ose that at a wedding things go as they do at an a'$tion where
e+erything is sold in the state it is in when the ha&&er #alls) 4ll it $ares #or is that the
lo+ers get one another it doesn=t tro'ble abo't the rest) 8# only it $o'ld see what
ha--ens a#terwards D b't #or that it has no ti&e it is at on$e in #'ll swing with the
b'siness o# $la--ing together a new -air o# lo+ers) 4estheti$s is the &ost #aithless o#
all s$ien$es) *+eryone who has dee-ly lo+ed it be$o&es in a $ertain sense 'nha--y
b't he who has ne+er lo+ed it is and re&ains a pecus)
:e will then be able to wrest #ro& his &ind e+ery sel#.de$eit abo't his being able to
&ake 4gnes ha--y by his tri$k he will ha+e $o'rage h'&anly s-eaking to $r'sh
4gnes) :ere 8 wo'ld &ake in $on$l'sion only one -sy$hologi$al obser+ation) The
&ore sel#ishly 4gnes has been de+elo-ed the &ore da((ling will the sel#.de$e-tion
be indeed it is not in$on$ei+able that in reality it &ight $o&e to -ass that a &er&an
by his de&onia$ shrewdness has h'&anly s-eaking not only sa+ed an 4gnes b't
bro'ght so&ething e/traordinary o't o# her 0 #or a de&on knows how to tort're
-owers o't o# e+en the weakest -erson and in his way he &ay ha+e the best
intentions toward a h'&an being)
The &er&an stands at the diale$ti$al t'rning.-oint) 8# he is deli+ered o't o# the
HH
de&onia$al into re-entan$e there are two -aths o-en to hi&) :e &ay hold ba$k
re&ain in his $on$eal&ent b't not rely '-on his shrewdness) :e does not $o&e as the
indi+id'al into an absol'te relationshi- with the de&onia$al b't #inds re-ose in the
$o'nter.-arado/ that the deity will sa+e 4gnes) (So it is the <iddle 4ges wo'ld
-er#or& the &o+e&ent #or a$$ording to its $on$e-tion the &er&an is absol'tely
dedi$ated to the $loister)) Er else he &ay be sa+ed along with 4gnes) %ow this is not
to be 'nderstood to &ean that by the lo+e o# 4gnes #or hi& he &ight be sa+ed #ro&
being hen$e#orth a de$ei+er (this is the aestheti$ way o# -er#or&ing a res$'e whi$h
always goes aro'nd the &ain -oint whi$h is the $ontin'ity o# the &er&an=s li#e) 0 #or
so #ar as that goes he is already sa+ed he is sa+ed inas&'$h as he be$o&es re+ealed)
Then he &arries 4gnes) 2't still he &'st ha+e re$o'rse to the -arado/) Cor when the
indi+id'al by his g'ilt has gone o'tside the 'ni+ersal he $an ret'rn to it only by +irt'e
o# ha+ing $o&e as the indi+id'al into an absol'te relationshi- with the absol'te) :ere
8 will &ake an obser+ation by whi$h 8 say &ore than was said at any -oint in the
#oregoing dis$'ssion)M
M8n the #oregoing dis$'ssion 8 ha+e intentionally re#rained #ro& any $onsideration o#
sin and its reality) The whole dis$'ssion -oints to 4braha& and hi& 8 $an still
a--roa$h by i&&ediate $ategories D in so #ar that is to say as 8 a& able to 'nderstand
hi&) 4s soon as sin &akes its a--earan$e ethi$s $o&es to grie# -re$isely '-on
re-entan$e 0 #or re-entan$e is the highest ethi$al e/-ression b't -re$isely as s'$h it is
the dee-est ethi$al sel#.$ontradi$tion)
Sin is not the #irst i&&edia$y sin is a later i&&edia$y) 2y sin the indi+id'al is
already higher (in the dire$tion o# the de&onia$al -arado/) than the 'ni+ersal
be$a'se it is a $ontradi$tion on the -art o# the 'ni+ersal to i&-ose itsel# '-on a &an
who la$ks the conditio sine qua non) 8# -hiloso-hy a&ong other +agaries were also to
ha+e the notion that it $o'ld o$$'r to a &an to a$t in a$$ordan$e with its tea$hing one
&ight &ake o't o# that a ,'eer $o&edy) 4n ethi$s whi$h disregards sin is a -er#e$tly
idle s$ien$e 0 b't i# it asserts sin it is eo ipso well beyond itsel#) "hiloso-hy tea$hes
that the i&&ediate &'st be ann'lled (aufgehoben)) That is tr'e eno'gh 0 b't what is
not tr'e in this is that sin is as a &atter o# $o'rse the i&&ediate #or that is no &ore
tr'e than that #aith as a &atter o# $o'rse is the i&&ediate)
4s long as 8 &o+e in these s-heres e+erything goes s&oothly b't what is said here
does not by any &eans e/-lain 4braha& 0 #or it was not by sin 4braha& be$a&e the
indi+id'al on the $ontrary he was a righteo's &an he is 9od=s ele$t) So the analogy
to 4braha& will not a--ear 'ntil a#ter the indi+id'al has been bro'ght to the -oint o#
being able to a$$o&-lish the 'ni+ersal and then the -arado/ re-eats itsel#)
The &o+e&ents o# the &er&an 8 $an 'nderstand whereas 8 $annot 'nderstand
4braha& 0 #or it is -re$isely thro'gh the -arado/ that the &er&an $o&es to the -oint
o# reali(ing the 'ni+ersal) Cor i# he re&ains hidden and initiates hi&sel# into all the
tor&ents o# re-entan$e then he be$o&es a de&on and as s'$h is bro'ght to na'ght) 8#
he re&ains $on$ealed b't does not think $'nningly that being hi&sel# tor&ented in the
bondage o# re-entan$e he $o'ld work 4gnes loose then he #inds -ea$e indeed b't is
HB
lost #or this world) 8# he be$o&es re+ealed and allows hi&sel# to be sa+ed by 4gnes
then he is the greatest &an 8 $an -i$t're to &ysel# 0 #or it is only the aestheti$ writer
who thinks light&indedly that he e/tols the -ower o# lo+e by letting the lost &an be
lo+ed by an inno$ent girl and thereby sa+ed it is only the aestheti$ writer who sees
a&iss and belie+es that the girl is the heroine instead o# the &an being the hero) So
the &er&an $annot belong to 4gnes 'nless a#ter ha+ing &ade the in#inite &o+e&ent
the &o+e&ent o# re-entan$e he &akes still one &ore &o+e&ent by +irt'e o# the
abs'rd) 2y his own strength he $an &ake the &o+e&ent o# re-entan$e b't #or that he
'ses '- absol'tely all his strength and hen$e he $annot by his own strength ret'rn and
gras- reality) 8# a &an has not eno'gh -assion to &ake either the one &o+e&ent or the
other i# he loiters thro'gh li#e re-enting a little and thinks that the rest will take $are
o# itsel# he has on$e #or all reno'n$ed the e##ort to li+e in the idea D and then he $an
+ery easily rea$h and hel- others to rea$h the highest attain&ents i)e) del'de hi&sel#
and others with the notion that in the world o# s-irit e+erything goes as in a well.
known ga&e o# $ards where e+erything de-ends on ha-ha(ard) Ene $an there#ore
di+ert onesel# by re#le$ting how strange it is that -re$isely in o'r age when e+eryone
is able to a$$o&-lish the highest things do'bt abo't the i&&ortality o# the so'l $o'ld
be so wides-read #or the &an who has really &ade e+en so &'$h as the &o+e&ent o#
in#inity is hardly a do'bter) The $on$l'sions o# -assion are the only reliable ones that
is the only $on+in$ing $on$l'sions) Cort'nately e/isten$e is in this instan$e &ore
kindly and &ore #aith#'l than the wise &aintain #or it e/$l'des no &an not e+en the
lowliest it #ools no one #or in the world o# s-irit only he is #ooled who #ools hi&sel#)
8t is the o-inion o# all and so #ar as 8 dare -er&it &ysel# to -ass >'dg&ent it is also
&y o-inion that it is not the highest thing to enter the &onastery 0 b't #or all that it is
by no &eans &y o-inion that in o'r age when nobody enters the &onastery e+erybody
is greater than the dee- and earnest so'ls who #o'nd re-ose in a &onastery) :ow
&any are there in o'r age who ha+e -assion eno'gh to think this tho'ght and then to
>'dge the&sel+es honestly F This &ere tho'ght o# taking ti&e '-on one=s $ons$ien$e
o# gi+ing it ti&e to e/-lore with its slee-less +igilan$e e+ery se$ret tho'ght with s'$h
e##e$t that i# e+en instant one does not &ake the &o+e&ent by +irt'e o# the highest
and holiest there is in a &an one is able with dread and horror to dis$o+erM and by
dread itsel# i# in no other way to l're #orth the obs$'re &ibido whi$h is $on$ealed
a#ter all in e+en h'&an li#e whereas on the $ontrary when one li+es in so$iety with
others one so easily #orgets is let o## so easily is s'stained in so &any ways gets
o--ort'nity to start a#resh D this &ere tho'ght $on$ei+ed with -ro-er re s-e$t 8
wo'ld s'--ose &'st $hasten &any an indi+id'al in o'r age whi$h i&agines it has
already rea$hed the highest attain&ent)
M"eo-le do not belie+e this in o'r serio's age and yet it is re&arkable that e+en in
-aganis& &ore easy.going and less gi+en to rede$tion the two o'tstanding
re-resentati+es o# the 9reek gnBqi sautCn 6know thysel#? as a $on$e-tion o# e/isten$e
inti&ated ea$h in his way that by del+ing dee- into onesel# one wo'ld #irst o# all
dis$o+er the dis-osition to e+il) 8 s'rely do not need to say that 8 a& thinking o#
"ythagoras and So$rates)
HA
2't abo't this -eo-le $on$ern the&sel+es +ery little in o'r age whi$h has rea$hed the
highest attain&ent whereas in tr'th no age has so #allen +i$ti& to the $o&i$ as this
has and it is in$o&-rehensible that this age has not already by a generatio acquivoca
6breeding witho't &ating? gi+en birth to its hero the de&on who wo'ld re&orselessly
-rod'$e the dread#'l s-e$ta$le o# &aking the whole age la'gh and &aking it #orget
that it was la'ghing at itsel#) Er what is e/isten$e #or b't to be la'ghed at i# &en in
their twenties ha+e already attained the 't&ost F 4nd #or all that what lo#tier e&otion
has the age #o'nd sin$e &en ga+e '- entering the &onastery F 8s it not a -itiable
-r'den$e shrewdness #aintheartedness it has #o'nd whi$h sits in high -la$es and
$ra+enly &akes &en belie+e they ha+e a$$o&-lished the greatest things and
insidio'sly withholds the& #ro& atte&-ting to do e+en the lesser things F The &an
who has -er#or&ed the $loister.&o+e&ent has only one &o+e&ent &ore to &ake that
is the &o+e&ent o# the abs'rd) :ow &any in o'r age 'nderstand what the abs'rd is F
:ow &any o# o'r $onte&-oraries so li+e that they ha+e reno'n$ed all or ha+e gained
all F :ow &any are e+en so honest with the&sel+es that they know what they $an do
and what they $annot F 4nd is it not tr'e that in so #ar as one #inds s'$h -eo-le one
#inds the& rather a&ong the less $'lt'red and in -art a&ong wo&en F The age in a
kind o# $lair+oyan$e re+eals its weak -oint as a de&onia$ always re+eals hi&sel#
witho't 'nderstanding hi&sel# #or o+er and o+er again it is de&anding the $o&i$) 8# it
really were this the age needed the theater &ight -erha-s need a new -lay in whi$h it
was &ade a s'b>e$t o# la'ghter that a -erson died o# lo+e D or wo'ld it not rather be
sal'tary #or this age i# s'$h a thing were to ha--en a&ong 's i# the age were to
witness s'$h an o$$'rren$e in order that #or on$e it &ight a$,'ire $o'rage to belie+e
in the -ower o# s-irit $o'rage to sto- ,'en$hing $ra+enly the better i&-'lses in
onesel# and ,'en$hing en+io'sly the better i&-'lses in others ; by la'ghter F Does
the age really need a ridi$'lo's e/hibition by a religio's enth'siast in order to get
so&ething to la'gh at or does it not need rather that s'$h an enth'siasti$ #ig're
sho'ld re&ind it o# that whi$h has been #orgotten F
8# one wo'ld like to ha+e a story written on a si&ilar the&e b't &ore to'$hing #or the
#a$t that the -assion o# re-entan$e was not awakened one &ight 'se to this e##e$t a
tale whi$h is narrated in the book o# Tobit) The yo'ng Tobias wanted to &arry Sarah
the da'ghter o# 7ag'el and *dna) 2't a sad #atality h'ng o+er this yo'ng girl) She had
been gi+en to se+en h'sbands all o# who& had -erished in the bride.$ha&ber) With a
+iew to &y -lan this #eat're is a ble&ish in the narrati+e #or al&ost irresistibly a
$o&i$ e##e$t is -rod'$ed by the tho'ght o# se+en #r'itless atte&-ts to get &arried
notwithstanding she was +ery near to it D >'st as near as a st'dent who se+en ti&es
#ailed to get his di-lo&a) 8n the book o# Tobit the a$$ent #alls on a di##erent s-ot
there#ore the high #ig're is signi#i$ant and in a $ertain sense is $ontrib'tary to the
tragi$ e##e$t #or it enhan$es the $o'rage o# Tobias whi$h was the &ore notable
be$a'se he was the only son o# his -arents (B J14) and be$a'se the deterrent was so
striking) So this #eat're &'st be le#t o't) Sarah is a &aiden who has ne+er been in
lo+e who treas'res still a yo'ng &aiden=s bliss her enor&o's #irst &ortgage '-on
li#e her Do&&machtbrief Eum G&Fcke the -ri+ilege o# lo+ing a &an with her whole
heart) 4nd yet she is the &ost 'nha--y &aiden #or she knows that the e+il de&on
who lo+es her will kill the bridegroo& the night o# the wedding) 8 ha+e read o# &any a
sorrow b't 8 do'bt i# there is anywhere to be #o'nd so dee- a sorrow as that whi$h we
H8
dis$o+er in the li#e o# this girl) :owe+er i# the &is#ort'ne $o&es #ro& witho't there
is so&e $onsolation to be #o'nd a#ter all) 4ltho'gh e/isten$e did not bring one that
whi$h &ight ha+e &ade one ha--y there is still $onsolation in the tho'ght that one
wo'ld ha+e been able to re$ei+e it) 2't the 'n#atho&able sorrow whi$h ti&e $an
ne+er di+ert whi$h ti&e $an ne+er heal J To be aware that it was o# no a+ail tho'gh
e/isten$e were to do e+erything 5 4 9reek writer $on$eals so in#initely &'$h by his
si&-le naO+etP when he says J p3ntov gGr ou1de<s erota efugen h fe=*etai, m@criv an
k3&&ov h kaA o1fqa&moA b&@posin ($#) Hongi #astora&ia)) There has been &any a girl
who be$a&e 'nha--y in lo+e b't a#ter all she be$a&e so Sarah was so be#ore she
be$a&e so) 8t is hard not to #ind the &an to who& one $an s'rrender onesel#
de+otedly b't it is unspeakab& hard not to be able to s'rrender onesel#) 4 yo'ng girl
s'rrenders hersel# and then they say 1 %ow she is no longer #ree 3 0 b't Sarah was
ne+er #ree and yet she had ne+er s'rrendered hersel#) 8t is hard i# a girl s'rrendered
hersel# and then was $heated b't Sarah was $heated be#ore she s'rrendered hersel#)
What a world o# sorrow is i&-lied in what #ollows when #inally Tobias wishes to
&arry Sarah 5 What wedding $ere&onies 5 What -re-arations 5 %o &aiden has e+er
been so $heated as Sarah #or she was $heated o't o# the &ost sa$red thing o# all the
absol'te wealth whi$h e+en the -oorest girl -ossesses $heated o't o# the se$'re
bo'ndless 'nrestrained 'nbridled de+otion o# s'rrender D #or #irst there had to be a
#'&igation by laying the heart o# the #ish and its li+er '-on glowing $oals) 4nd think
o# how the &other had to take lea+e o# her da'ghter who ha+ing hersel# been $heated
o't o# all in $ontin'ity with this &'st $heat the &other o't o# her &ost bea'ti#'l
-ossession) J'st read the narrati+e) 1 *dna -re-ared the $ha&ber and bro'ght Sarah
thither and we-t and re$ei+ed the tears o# her da'ghter) 4nd she said 'nto her 2e o#
good $o&#ort &y $hild the Lord o# hea+en and earth gi+e thee >oy #or this thy
sorrow 5 2e o# good $o'rage &y da'ghter) 3 4nd then the &o&ent o# the n'-tials 5
Let one read it i# one $an #or tears) 1 2't a#ter they were both sh't in together Tobias
rose '- #ro& the bed and said Sister arise and let 's -ray that the Lord &ay ha+e
&er$y '-on 's 3 (8 J4))
8n $ase a -oet were to read this narrati+e in $ase he were to &ake 'se o# it 8 wager a
h'ndred to one that he wo'ld lay all the e&-hasis '-$n the yo'ng Tobias) :is heroi$
$o'rage in being willing to risk his li#e in s'$h e+ident danger D whi$h the narrati+e
re$alls on$e again #or the &orning a#ter the n'-tials 7ag'el says to *dna 1 Send one
o# the &aidser+ants and let her see whether he be ali+e 0 b't i# not that we &ay b'ry
hi& and no &an know o# it 3 (8 J1@) D this heroi$ $o'rage wo'ld be the -oet=s the&e)
8 take the liberty o# -ro-osing another) Tobias a$ted bra+ely sto'theartedly and
$hi+alro'sly b't any &an who has not the $o'rage #or this is a &olly.$oddle who
does not know what lo+e is or what it is to be a &an or what is worth li+ing #or 0 he
had not e+en $o&-rehended the little &ystery that it is better to gi+e than to re$ei+e
and has no inkling o# the great one that it is #ar &ore di##i$'lt to re$ei+e than to gi+e D
that is i# one has had $o'rage to do witho't and in the ho'r o# need did not be$o&e
$owardly) %o it is Sarah that is the heroine) 8 desire to draw near to her as 8 ne+er
ha+e drawn near to any girl or #elt te&-ted in tho'ght to draw near to any girl 8 ha+e
read abo't) Cor what lo+e to 9od it re,'ires to be willing to let onesel# be healed
when #ro& the beginning one has been th's b'ngled witho't one=s #a'lt #ro& the
beginning has been an aborti+e s-e$i&en o# h'&anity 5 What ethi$al &at'rity was
H!
re,'ired #or ass'&ing the res-onsibility o# allowing the lo+ed one to do s'$h a daring
deed 5 What h'&ility be#ore the #a$e o# another -ersonl What #aith in 9od to belie+e
that the ne/t instant she wo'ld not hate the h'sband to who& she owed e+erything 5
Let Sarah be a &an and with that the de&onia$al is $lose at hand) The -ro'd and
noble nat're $an end're e+erything b't one thing it $annot end're it $annot end're
-ity) 8n that there is i&-lied an indignity whi$h $an only be in#li$ted '-on one by a
higher -ower #or by onesel# one $an ne+er be$o&e an ob>e$t o# -ity) 8# a &an has
sinned he $an bear the -'nish&ent #or it witho't des-airing 0 b't witho't bla&e to be
singled o't #ro& his &other=s wo&b as a sa$ri#i$e to -ity as a sweet.s&elling sa+or in
its nostrils that he $annot -'t '- with) "ity has a strange diale$ti$ at one &o&ent it
re,'ires g'ilt the ne/t &o&ent it will not ha+e it and so it is that to be -redestinated
to -ity is &ore and &ore dread#'l the &ore the indi+id'al=s &is#ort'ne is in the
dire$tion o# the s-irit'al) 2't Sarah had no bla&e atta$hing to her she is $ast #orth as
a -rey to e+ery s'##ering and in addition to this has to end're the tort're o# -ity D #or
e+en 8 who ad&ire her &ore than Tobias lo+ed her e+en 8 $annot &ention her na&e
witho't saying 1 "oor girl) 3 "'t a &an in Sarah=s -la$e let hi& know that in $ase he
were to lo+e a girl a s-irit o# hell wo'ld $o&e and &'rder his lo+ed one D it &ight
well be -ossible that he wo'ld $hoose the de&onia$al -art that he wo'ld sh't hi&sel#
'- within hi&sel# and say in the way a de&onia$al nat're talks in se$ret 1 <any
thanks 8 a& no #riend o# $o'rteo's and -roli/ -hrases 8 do not absol'tely need the
-leas're o# lo+e 8 $an be$o&e a 2l'e 2eard #inding &y delight in seeing &aidens
-erish d'ring the night o# their n'-tials) 3 Ko&&only one hears little abo't the
de&onia$al notwithstanding that this #ield -arti$'larly in o'r ti&e has a +alid $lai&
to be e/-lored and notwithstanding that the obser+er in $ase he knows how to get a
little in rapport with the de&on $an at least o$$asionally &ake 'se o# al&ost e+ery
&an #or this -'r-ose) 4s s'$h an e/-lorer Shakes-eare is and $onstantly re&ains a
hero) That horrible de&on the &ost de&onia$al #ig're Shakes-eare has de-i$ted and
de-i$ted in$o&-arably the D'ke o# 9lo'$ester (a#terwards to be$o&e 7i$hard 888) D
what &ade hi& a de&on F *+idently the #a$t that he $o'ld not bear the -ity he had
been s'b>e$ted to sin$e $hildhood) :is &onolog'e in the #irst a$t o# 7i$hard 888 is
worth &ore than all the &oral syste&s whi$h ha+e no inkling o# the terrors o#
e/isten$e or o# the e/-lanation o# the&)
8 that a& r'dely sta&-ed and want lo+e=s &a>esty
To str't be#ore a wanton a&bling ny&-h 0
8 that a& $'rtail=d o# this #air -ro-ortion
Kheated o# #eat're by disse&bling nat're
De#or&ed 'n#inished sent be#ore &y ti&e
8nto this breathing world s$arse hal# &ade '-
4nd that so la&ely and 'n#ashionable
That dogs bark at &e as 8 halt by the&)
BL
S'$h nat'res as that o# 9lo'$ester one $annot sa+e by &ediating the& into an idea o#
so$iety) *thi$s in #a$t only &akes ga&e o# the& >'st as it wo'ld be a &o$kery o#
Sarah i# ethi$s were to say to her 1 Why dost tho' not e/-ress the 'ni+ersal and get
&arried F 3 *ssentially s'$h nat'res are in the -arado/ and are no &ore i&-er#e$t
than other &en b't are either lost in the de&onia$al -arado/ or sa+ed in the di+ine)
%ow #ro& ti&e o't o# &ind -eo-le ha+e been -leased to think that wit$hes
hobgoblins gno&es et$) were de#or&ed and 'ndeniably e+ery &an on seeing a
de#or&ed -erson has at on$e an in$lination to asso$iate this with the notion o# &oral
de-ra+ity) What a &onstro's in>'sti$e 5 Cor the sit'ation &'st rather be in+erted in
the sense that e/isten$e itsel# has $orr'-ted the& in the sa&e way that a ste-&other
&akes the $hildren wi$ked) The #a$t o# being originally set o'tside o# the 'ni+ersal
by nat're or by a histori$al $ir$'&stan$e is the beginning o# the de&onia$al #or
whi$h the indi+id'al hi&sel# howe+er is not to bla&e) Th's K'&berland=s Jew is also
a de&on notwithstanding he does what is good) Th's too the de&onia$al &ay e/-ress
itsel# as $onte&-t #or &en D a $onte&-t be it obser+ed whi$h does not $a'se a &an
to beha+e $onte&-tibly sin$e on the $ontrary he $o'nts it his #orte that he is better
than all who $onde&n hi&) D 8n +iew o# s'$h $ases the -oets o'ght to lose no ti&e in
so'nding the alar&) 9od knows what books are read now by the yo'nger generation
o# +erse &akers 5 Their st'dy likely $onsists in learning rhy&es by rote) 9od knows
what signi#i$an$e in e/isten$e these &en ha+e 5 4t this &o&ent 8 do not know what
'se they are e/$e-t to #'rnish an edi#ying -roo# o# the i&&ortality o# the so'l #or the
#a$t that one $an say o# the& as 2aggesen says o# the -oet o# o'r town Kilde+alle
1 8# he is i&&ortal then we all are) 3 D What has here been said abo't Sarah al&ost
as a sort o# -oeti$ -rod'$tion and there#ore with a #antasti$ -res'--osition a$,'ires
its #'ll signi#i$an$e i# one with -sy$hologi$al interest will del+e dee- into the &eaning
o# the old saying J ,u&&um unquam e*stitit magnum ingenium sine a&iqua dementia)
Cor this de&entia is the s'##ering allotted to geni's in e/isten$e it is the e/-ression i#
8 &ay say so o# the di+ine >ealo'sy whereas the gi#t o# geni's is the e/-ression o# the
di+ine #a+or) So #ro& the start the geni's is disoriented in relation to the 'ni+ersal and
is bro'ght into relation with the -arado/ D whether it be that in des-air at his
li&itation (whi$h in his eyes trans#or&s his o&ni-oten$e into i&-oten$e) he seeks a
de&onia$al reass'ran$e and there#ore will not ad&it s'$h li&itation either be#ore 9od
or &en or whether he reass'res hi&sel# religio'sly by lo+e to the Deity) :ere are
i&-lied -sy$hologi$al to-i$s to whi$h it see&s to &e one &ight gladly sa$ri#i$e a
whole li#e D and yet one so seldo& hears a word abo't the&) What relation has
&adness to geni's F Kan we $onstr'$t the one o't o# the other F 8n what sense and
how #ar is the geni's &aster o# his &adness F Cor it goes witho't saying that to a
$ertain degree he is &aster o# it sin$e otherwise he wo'ld be a$t'ally a &ad&an) Cor
s'$h obser+ations howe+er ingen'ity in a high degree is re,'isite and lo+e 0 #or to
&ake obser+ation '-on a s'-erior &ind is +ery di##i$'lt) 8# with d'e attention to this
di##i$'lty one were to read thro'gh the works o# -arti$'lar a'thors &ost $elebrated #or
their geni's it &ight in barely a single instan$e -erha-s be -ossible tho'gh with
&'$h -ains to dis$o+er a little)
8 wo'ld $onsider skill another $ase that o# an indi+id'al who by being hidden and by
his silen$e wo'ld sa+e the 'ni+ersal) To this end 8 &ake 'se o# the legend o# Ca'st)
Ca'st is a do'bterM an a-ostate against the s-irit who takes the -ath o# the #lesh)
B1
M8# one wo'ld -re#er not to &ake 'se o# a do'bter one &ight $hoose a si&ilar #ig're
an ironist #or e/a&-le whose shar- sight has dis$o+ered #'nda&entally the
l'di$ro'sness o# e/isten$e who by a se$ret 'nderstanding with the #or$es o# li#e
as$ertains what the -atient wishes) :e knows that he -ossesses the -ower o# la'ghter
i# he wo'ld 'se it he is s're o# his +i$tory yea also o# his good #ort'ne) :e knows
that an indi+id'al +oi$e will be raised in resistan$e b't he knows that he is stronger
he knows that #or an instant one still $an $a'se &en to see& serio's b't he knows
also that -ri+ately they long to la'gh with hi& 0 he knows that #or an instant one $an
still $a'se a wo&an to hold a #an be#ore her eyes when he talks b't he knows that she
is la'ghing behind the #an that the #an is not absol'tely i&-er+io's to +ision he
knows that one $an write on it an in+isible ins$ri-tion he knows that when a wo&an
strikes at hi& with her #an it is be$a'se she has 'nderstood hi& he knows witho't the
least danger o# de$e-tion how la'ghter sneaks in and how when on$e it has taken '-
its lodging it lies in a&b'sh and waits) Let 's i&agine s'$h an 4risto-hanes s'$h a
Goltaire a little altered #or he is at the sa&e ti&e a sy&-atheti$ nat're he lo+es
e/isten$e he lo+es &en and he knows that e+en tho'gh the re-roo# o# la'ghter will
-erha-s ed'$ate a sa+ed yo'ng ra$e yet in the $onte&-orary generation a &'ltit'de
o# &en will be r'ined) So he kee-s silent and as #ar as -ossible #orgets how to la'gh)
2't dare he kee- silent F "erha-s there are s'ndry -ersons who do not in the least
'nderstand the di##i$'lty 8 ha+e in &ind) They are likely o# the o-inion that it is an
ad&irable a$t o# &agnani&ity to kee- silent) That is not at all &y o-inion #or 8 think
that e+ery s'$h $hara$ter i# he has not had the &agnani&ity to kee- silent is a traitor
against e/isten$e) So 8 re,'ire o# hi& this &agnani&ity b't when he -ossesses it dare
he then kee- silent F *thi$s is a dangero's s$ien$e and it &ight be -ossible that
4risto-hanes was deter&ined by -'rely ethi$al $onsiderations in resol+ing to re-ro+e
by la'ghter his &isg'ided age) 4estheti$al &agnani&ity does not hel- 6to sol+e the
,'estion whether one o'ght to kee- silent? #or on the $redit o# that one does not take
s'$h a risk) 8# he is to kee- silent then into the -arado/ he &'st go) D 8 will s'ggest
still another -lan #or a story) S'--ose e)g) that a &an -ossessed a e/-lanation o# a
heroi$ li#e whi$h e/-lained it in a sorry way and yet a whole generation re-oses
se$'rely in an absol'te belie# in this hero witho't s's-e$ting anything o# the sort)
This is what the -oets &ean by it and whereas again and again it is re-eated that
e+ery age has its Ca'st yet one -oet a#ter another #ollows inde#atigably the sa&e
beaten tra$k) Let 's &ake a little alteration) Ca'st is the do'bter par e*ce&&ence b't he
is a sy&-atheti$ nat're) *+en in 9oethe=s inter-retation o# Ca'st 8 sense the la$k o# a
dee-er -sy$hologi$al insight into the se$ret $on+ersations o# do'bt with itsel#) 8n o'r
age when indeed all ha+e e/-erien$ed do'bt no -oet has yet &ade a ste- in this
dire$tion) So 8 think 8 &ight well o##er the& 7oyal Se$'rities to write on so that they
$o'ld write down all they ha+e e/-erien$ed in this res-e$t D they wo'ld hardly write
&ore than there is roo& #or on the le#t hand &argin)
Enly when one th's de#le$ts Ca'st ba$k into hi&sel# only then $an do'bt a--ear
-oeti$ only then too does he hi&sel# dis$o+er in reality all its s'##erings) :e knows
that it is s-irit whi$h s'stains e/isten$e b't he knows then too that the se$'rity and
B@
>oy in whi$h &en li+e is not #o'nded '-on the -ower o# s-irit b't is easily e/-li$able
as an 'nre#le$ted ha--iness) 4s a do'bter as the do'bter he is higher than all this and
i# anyone wo'ld de$ei+e hi& by &aking hi& belie+e that he has -assed thro'gh a
$o'rse o# training in do'bt he readily sees thro'gh the de$e-tion 0 #or the &an who
has &ade a &o+e&ent in the world o# s-irit hen$e an in#inite &o+e&ent $an at on$e
hear thro'gh the s-oken word whether it is a tried and e/-erien$ed &an who is
s-eaking or a <Un$hha'sen) What a Ta&berlane is able to a$$o&-lish by &eans o#
his :'ns that Ca'st is able to a$$o&-lish by &eans o# his do'bt J to #righten &en '-
in dis&ay to $a'se e/isten$e to ,'ake beneath their #eet to dis-erse &en abroad to
$a'se the shriek o# dread to be heard on all sides) 4nd i# he does it he is ne+ertheless
no Ta&berlane he is in a $ertain sense warranted and has the warranty o# tho'ght) 2't
Ca'st is a sy&-atheti$ nat're he lo+es e/isten$e his so'l is a$,'ainted with no en+y
he -er$ei+es that he is 'nable to $he$k the raging he is well able to aro'se he desires
no :erostrati$ honor D he kee-s silent he hides the do'bt in his so'l &ore $are#'lly
than the girl who hides 'nder her heart the #r'it o# a sin#'l lo+e he endea+ors as well
as he $an to walk in ste- with other &en b't what goes on within hi& he $ons'&es
within hi&sel# and th's he o##ers hi&sel# a sa$ri#i$e #or the 'ni+ersal)
When an e$$entri$ -ate raises a whirlwind o# do'bt one &ay so&eti&es hear -eo-le
say 1 Wo'ld that he had ke-t silent) 3 Ca'st reali(es this idea) :e who has a
$on$e-tion o# what it &eans to li+e '-on s-irit knows also what the h'nger o# do'bt
is and that the do'bter h'ngers >'st as &'$h #or the daily bread o# li#e as #or the
n'tri&ent o# the s-irit) 4ltho'gh all the -ain Ca'st s'##ers &ay be a #airly good
arg'&ent that is was not -ride -ossessed hi& yet to test this #'rther 8 will e&-loy a
little -re$a'tionary e/-edient whi$h 8 in+ent with great ease) Cor as 9regory o#
7i&ini was $alled tortor infantium be$a'se he es-o'sed the +iew o# the da&nation o#
in#ants so 8 &ight be te&-ted to $all &ysel# tortor heroum 0 #or 8 a& +ery in+enti+e
when it is a ,'estion o# -'tting heroes to the tort're) Ca'st sees <arg'erite D not a#ter
he had &ade the $hoi$e o# -leas're #or &y Ca'st does not $hoose -leas're D he sees
<arg'erite not in the $on$a+e &irror o# <e-histo-heles b't in all her lo+able
inno$en$e and as his so'l has -reser+ed lo+e #or &ankind he $an -er#e$tly well #all in
lo+e with her) 2't he is a do'bter his do'bt has annihilated reality #or hi& 0 #or so
ideal is &y Ca'st that he does not belong to these s$ienti#i$ do'bters who do'bt one
ho'r e+ery se&ester in the -ro#essorial $hair b't at other ti&es are able to do
e+erything else as indeed they do this witho't the s'--ort o# s-irit or by +irt'e o#
s-irit) :e is a do'bter and the do'bter h'ngers >'st as &'$h #or the daily bread o# >oy
as #or the #ood o# the s-irit) :e re&ains howe+er tr'e to his resol'tion and kee-s
silent and he talks to no &an o# his do'bt nor to <arg'erite o# his lo+e)
8t goes witho't saying that Ca'st is too ideal a #ig're to be $ontent with the tattle that
i# he were to talk he wo'ld gi+e o$$asion to an ordinary dis$'ssion and the whole
thing wo'ld -ass o## witho't any $onse,'en$es D or -erha-s and -erha-s) ; (:ere
as e+ery -oet will easily see the $o&i$ is latent in the -lan threatening to bring Ca'st
into an ironi$al relation to these #ools o# low $o&edy who in o'r age r'n a#ter do'bt
-rod'$e an e/ternal arg'&ent e)g) a do$tor=s di-lo&a to -ro+e that they really ha+e
do'bted or take their oath that they ha+e do'bted e+erything or -ro+e it by the #a$t
that on a >o'rney they &et a do'bter D these e/-ress.&essengers and #oot.ra$ers in the
world o# s-irit who in the greatest haste get #ro& one &an a little hint o# do'bt #ro&
B3
another a little hint o# #aith and then t'rn it to a$$o'nt as best they $an a$$ording as
the $ongregation wants to ha+e #ine sand or $oarse sand)) Ca'st is too ideal a #ig're to
go abo't in $ar-et.sli--ers) :e who has not an in#inite -assion is not the ideal and he
who has an in#inite -assion has long ago sa+ed his so'l o't o# s'$h nonsense) :e
kee-s silent and sa$ri#i$es hi&sel#Sor he talks with the $ons$io'sness that he will
$on#o'nd e+erything)
8# he kee-s silent ethi$s $onde&ns hi& #or it says 1 Tho' shalt a$knowledge the
'ni+ersal and it is -re$isely by s-eaking tho' dost a$knowledge it and tho' &'st not
ha+e $o&-assion '-on the 'ni+ersal) 3 Ene o'ght not to #orget this $onsideration
when so&eti&es one >'dges a do'bter se+erely #or talking) 8 a& not in$lined to >'dge
s'$h $ond'$t leniently b't in this $ase as e+erywhere all de-ends '-on whether the
&o+e&ents o$$'r nor&ally) 8# worse $o&es to worst a do'bter e+en tho'gh by
talking he were to bring down all -ossible &is#ort'ne '-on the world is &'$h to be
-re#erred to these &iserable sweet.tooths who taste a little o# e+erything and who
wo'ld heal do'bt witho't being a$,'ainted with it and who are there#ore 's'ally the
-ro/i&ate $a'se o# it when do'bt breaks o't wildly and with 'ngo+ernable rage) D 8#
he s-eaks then he $on#o'nds e+erything D #or tho'gh this does not a$t'ally o$$'r he
does not get to know it till a#terwards and the '-shot $annot hel- a &an either at the
&o&ent o# a$tion or with regard to his res-onsibility)
8# he kee-s silent on his own res-onsibility he &ay indeed be a$ting &agnani&o'sly
b't to his other -ains he adds a little te&-tation (.nfechtung) #or the 'ni+ersal will
$onstantly tort're hi& and say 1 Io' o'ght to ha+e talked) Where will yo' #ind the
$ertainty that it was not a#ter all a hidden -ride whi$h go+erned yo'r resol'tion F 3
8# on the other hand the do'bter is able to be$o&e the -arti$'lar indi+id'al who as the
indi+id'al stands in an absol'te relation to the absol'te then he $an get a warrant
#orhis silen$e) 8n this $ase he &'st trans#or& his do'bt into g'ilt) 8n this $ase he is
within the -arado/ b't in this $ase his do'bt is $'red e+en tho'gh he &ay get another
do'bt)
*+en the %ew Testa&ent wo'ld a--ro+e o# s'$h a silen$e) There are e+en -assages in
the %ew Testa&ent whi$h $o&&end irony D i# only it is 'sed to $on$eal so&ething
good) This &o+e&ent howe+er is as -ro-erly a &o+e&ent o# irony as is any other
whi$h has its gro'nd in the #a$t that s'b>e$ti+ity is higher than reality) 8n o'r age
-eo-le want to hear nothing abo't this generally they want to know no &ore abo't
irony than :egel has said abo't it D who strangely eno'gh had not &'$h
'nderstanding o# it and bore a gr'dge against it whi$h o'r age has good reason not to
gi+e '- #or it had better beware o# irony) 8n the Ser&on on the <o'nt it is said
1 When tho' #astest anoint thy head and wash thy #a$e that tho' be not seen o# &en
to #ast) 3 This -assage bears witness dire$tly to the tr'th that s'b>e$ti+ity is
in$o&&ens'rable with reality yea that it has lea+e to de$ei+e) 8# only the -eo-le who
in o'r age go gadding abo't with +ag'e talk abo't the $ongregational idea were to
read the %ew Testa&ent they wo'ld -erha-s get other ideas into their heads)
2't now as #or 4braha& D how did he a$t F Cor 8 ha+e not #orgotten and the reader
will -erha-s be kind eno'gh to re&e&ber that it was with the ai& o# rea$hing this
-oint 8 entered into the whole #oregoing dis$'ssion D not as tho'gh 4braha& wo'ld
thereby be$o&e &ore intelligible b't in order that the 'nintelligibility &ight be$o&e
B4
&ore des'ltory) Cor as 8 ha+e said 4braha& 8 $annot 'nderstand 8 $an only ad&ire
hi&) 8t was also obser+ed that the stages 8 ha+e des$ribed do none o# the& $ontain an
analogy to 4braha&) The e/a&-les were si&-ly ed'$ed in order that while they were
shown in their own -ro-er s-here they &ight at the &o&ent o# +ariation 6#ro&
4braha&=s $ase? indi$ate as it were the bo'ndary o# the 'nknown land) 8# there &ight
be any analogy this &'st be #o'nd in the -arado/ o# sin b't this again lies in another
s-here and $annot e/-lain 4braha& and is itsel# #ar easier to e/-lain than 4braha&)
So then 4braha& did not s-eak he did not s-eak to Sarah nor to *lea(ar nor to
8saa$ he -assed o+er three ethi$al a'thorities 0 #or the ethi$al had #or 4braha& no
higher e/-ression than the #a&ily li#e)
4estheti$s -er&itted yea re,'ired o# the indi+id'al silen$e when he knew that by
kee-ing silent he $o'ld sa+e another) This is already s'##i$ient -roo# that 4braha&
does not lie within the $ir$'&#eren$e o# aestheti$s) :is silen$e has by no &eans the
intention o# sa+ing 8saa$ and in general his whole task o# sa$ri#i$ing 8saa$ #or his own
sake and #or 9od=s sake is an o##ense to aestheti$s #or aestheti$s $an well 'nderstand
that 8 sa$ri#i$e &ysel# b't not that 8 sa$ri#i$e another #or &y own sake) The aestheti$
hero was silent) *thi$s $onde&ned hi& howe+er be$a'se he was silent by +irt'e o#
his a$$idental -arti$'larity) :is h'&an #oreknowledge was what deter&ined hi& to
kee- silent) This ethi$s $annot #orgi+e e+ery s'$h h'&an knowledge is only an
ill'sion ethi$s re,'ires an in#inite &o+e&ent it re,'ires re+elation) So the aestheti$
hero $an s-eak b't will not)
The gen'ine tragi$ hero sa$ri#i$es hi&sel# and all that is his #or the 'ni+ersal his deed
and e+ery e&otion with hi& belong to the 'ni+ersal he is re+ealed and in this sel#.
re+elation he is the belo+ed son o# ethi$s) This does not #it the $ase o# 4braha& J he
does nothing #or the 'ni+ersal and he is $on$ealed)
%ow we rea$h the -arado/) *ither the indi+id'al as the indi+id'al is able to stand in
an absol'te relation to the absol'te (and then the ethi$al is not the highest)Sor
4braha& is lost D he is neither a tragi$ hero nor an aestheti$ hero)
:ere again it &ay see& as i# the -arado/ were the easiest and &ost $on+enient thing
o# all) :owe+er 8 &'st re-eat that he who $o'nts hi&sel# $on+in$ed o# this is not a
knight o# #aith #or distress and ang'ish are the only legiti&ations that $an be tho'ght
o# and they $annot be tho'ght in general ter&s #or with that the -arado/ is ann'lled)
4braha& kee-s silent D b't he cannot s-eak) Therein lies the distress and ang'ish) Cor
i# 8 when 8 s-eak a& 'nable to &ake &ysel# intelligible then 8 a& not s-eaking D e+en
tho'gh 8 were to talk 'ninterr'-tedly day and night) S'$h is the $ase with 4braha&)
:e is able to 'tter e+erything b't one thing he $annot say i)e) say it in s'$h a way
that another 'nderstands it and so he is not s-eaking) The relie# o# s-ee$h is that it
translates &e into the 'ni+ersal) %ow 4braha& is able to say the &ost bea'ti#'l things
any lang'age $an e/-ress abo't how he lo+es 8saa$) 2't it is not this he has at heart to
say it is the -ro#o'nder tho'ght that he wo'ld sa$ri#i$e hi& be$a'se it is a trial) This
latter tho'ght no one $an 'nderstand and hen$e e+eryone $an only &is'nderstand the
#or&er) This distress the tragi$ hero does not know) :e has #irst o# all the $o&#ort that
e+ery $o'nter.arg'&ent has re$ei+ed d'e $onsideration that he has been able to gi+e
to Klyte&nestra to 8-higenia to 4$hilles to the $hor's to e+ery li+ing being to
BH
e+ery +oi$e #ro& the heart o# h'&anity to e+ery $'nning e+ery alar&ing e+ery
a$$'sing e+ery $o&-assionate tho'ght o--ort'nity to stand '- against hi&) :e $an
be s're that e+erything that $an be said against hi& has been said 'ns-aringly
&er$ilessly D and to stri+e against the whole world is a $o&#ort to stri+e with onesel#
is dread#'l) :e has no reason to #ear that he has o+erlooked anything so that
a#terwards he &'st $ry o't as did King *dward the Co'rth at the news o# the death o#
Klaren$e J
Who s'=d to &e #or hi& F who in &y wrath
Kneel=d at &y #eet and bade &e be ad+ised F
Who s-oke o# brotherhood F who s-oke o# lo+e F
The tragi$ hero does not know the terrible res-onsibility o# solit'de) 8n the ne/t -la$e
he has the $o&#ort that he $an wee- and la&ent with Klyte&nestra and 8-higenia D
and tears and $ries are ass'aging b't 'n'tterable sighs are tort're) 4ga&e&non $an
,'i$kly $olle$t his so'l into the $ertainty that he will a$t and then he still has ti&e to
$o&#ort and e/hort) This 4braha& is 'nable to do) When his heart is &o+ed when his
words wo'ld $ontain a blessed $o&#ort #or the whole world he does not dare to o##er
$o&#ort #or wo'ld not Sarah wo'ld not *lea(ar wo'ld not 8saa$ say 1 Why wilt
tho' do it F Tho' $anst re#rain F 3 4nd i# in his distress he wo'ld gi+e +ent to his
#eelings and wo'ld e&bra$e all his dear ones be#ore taking the #inal ste- this &ight
-erha-s bring abo't the dread#'l $onse,'en$e that Sarah that *lea(ar that 8saa$
wo'ld be o##ended in hi& and wo'ld belie+e he was a hy-o$rite) :e is 'nable to
s-eak he s-eaks no h'&an lang'age) Tho'gh he hi&sel# 'nderstood all the tong'es
o# the world tho'gh his lo+ed ones also 'nderstood the& he ne+ertheless $annot
s-eak D he s-eaks a di+ine lang'age ; he 1 s-eaks with tong'es) 3
This distress 8 $an well 'nderstand 8 $an ad&ire 4braha& 8 a& not a#raid that anyone
&ight be te&-ted by this narrati+e light.heartedly to want to be the indi+id'al b't 8
ad&it also that 8 ha+e not the $o'rage #or it and that 8 reno'n$e gladly any -ros-e$t o#
getting #'rther D i# only it were -ossible that in any way howe+er late 8 &ight get so
#ar) *+ery instant 4braha& is able to break o## he $an re-ent the whole thing as a
te&-tation (.nfechtung) then he $an s-eak then all $o'ld 'nderstand hi& D b't then
he is no longer 4braha&)
4braha& $annot s-eak #or he $annot 'tter the word whi$h e/-lains all (that is not so
that it is intelligible) he $annot say that it is a test and a test o# s'$h a sort be it
noted that the ethi$al is the te&-tation (Dersuchung)) :e who is so sit'ated is an
e&igrant #ro& the s-here o# the 'ni+ersal) 2't the ne/t word he is still less able to
'tter) Cor as was s'##i$iently set #orth earlier 4braha& &akes two &o+e&ents J he
&akes the in#inite &o+e&ent o# resignahon and gi+es '- 8saa$ (this no one $an
'nderstand be$a'se it is a -ri+ate +ent're) 0 b't in the ne/t -la$e he &akes the
&o+e&ent o# #aith e+ery instant) This is his $o&#ort #or he says J 1 2't yet this will
not $o&e to -ass or i# it does $o&e to -ass then the Lord will gi+e &e a new 8saa$
by +irt'e +i() o# the abs'rd) 3 The tragi$ hero does at last get to the end o# the story)
8-higenia bows to her #ather=s resol'tion she hersel# &akes the in#inite &o+e&ent o#
BB
resignation and now they are on good ter&s with one another) She $an 'nderstand
4ga&e&non be$a'se his 'ndertaking e/-resses the 'ni+ersal) 8# on the other hand
4ga&e&non were to say to her 1 8n s-ite o# the #a$t that the deity de&ands thee as a
sa$ri#i$e it &ight yet be -ossible that he did not de&and it D by +irt'e +i() o# the
abs'rd 3 he wo'ld that +ery instant be$o&e 'nintelligible to 8-higenia) 8# he $o'ld
say this by +irt'e o# h'&an $al$'lation 8-higenia wo'ld s'rely 'nderstand hi& b't
#ro& that it wo'ld #ollow that 4ga&e&non had not &ade the in#inite &o+e&ent o#
resignation and so he is not a hero and so the 'tteran$e o# the seer is a sea.$a-tain=s
tale and the whole o$$'rren$e a +a'de+ille)
4braha& did not s-eak) Enly one word o# his has been -reser+ed the only re-ly to
8saa$ whi$h also is s'##i$ient -roo# that he had not s-oken -re+io'sly) 8saa$ asks
4braha& where the la&b is #or the b'rnt o##ering) 1 4nd 4braha& said 9od will
-ro+ide :i&sel# the la&b #or the b'rnt o##ering &y son) 3
This last word o# 4braha& 8 shall $onsider a little &ore $losely) 8# there were not this
word the whole e+ent wo'ld ha+e la$ked so&ething 0 i# it were to another e##e$t
e+erything -erha-s wo'ld be resol+ed into $on#'sion)
8 ha+e o#ten re#le$ted '-on the ,'estion whether a tragi$ hero be the $'l&ination o#
his tragedy a s'##ering or an a$tion o'ght to ha+e a last re>oi$er) 8n &y o-inion it
de-ends '-on the li#e.s-here to whi$h he belongs whether his li#e has intelle$t'al
signi#i$an$e whether his s'##ering or his a$tion stands in relation to s-irit)
8t goes witho't saying that the tragi$ hero like e+ery other &an who is not de-ri+ed
o# the -ower o# s-ee$h $an at the instant o# his $'l&ination 'tter a #ew words
-erha-s a #ew a--ro-riate words b't the ,'estion is whether it is a--ro-riate #or hi&
to 'tter the&) 8# the signi#i$an$e o# his li#e $onsists in an o'tward a$t then he has
nothing to say sin$e all he says is essentially $hatter whereby he only weakens the
i&-ression he &akes whereas the $ere&onial o# tragedy re,'ires that he -er#or& his
task in silen$e whether this $onsists in a$tion or in s'##ering) %ot to go too #ar a#ield
8 will take an e/a&-le whi$h lies nearest to o'r dis$'ssion) 8# 4ga&e&non hi&sel#
and not Kal$has had had to draw the kni#e against 8-higenia then he wo'ld ha+e only
de&eaned hi&sel# by wanting at the last &o&ent to say a #ew words #or the
signi#i$an$e o# his a$t was notorio's the >'ridi$al -ro$ed're o# -iety o# $o&-assion
o# e&otion o# tears was $o&-leted and &oreo+er his li#e had no relation to s-irit he
was not a tea$her or a witness to the s-irit) En the other hand i# the signi#i$an$e o# a
hero=s li#e is in the dire$tion o# s-irit then the la$k o# a re>oinder wo'ld weaken the
i&-ression he &akes) What he has to say is not a #ew a--ro-riate words a little -ie$e
o# de$la&ation b't the signi#i$an$e o# his re>oinder is that in the de$isi+e &o&ent he
$arries hi&sel# thro'gh) S'$h an intelle$t'al tragi$ hero o'ght to ha+e what in other
$ir$'&stan$es is too o#ten stri+en #or in l'di$ro's ways he o'ght to ha+e and he
o'ght to kee- the last word) Ene re,'ires o# hi& the sa&e e/alted bearing whi$h is
see&ly in e+ery tragi$ hero b't in addition to this there is re,'ired o# hi& one word)
So when s'$h an intelle$t'al tragi$ hero has his $'l&ination in s'##ering (in death)
then by his last word he be$o&es i&&ortal be#ore he dies whereas the ordinary tragi$
hero on the other hand does not be$o&e i&&ortal till a#ter his death)
Ene &ay take So$rates as an e/a&-le) :e was an intelle$t'al tragi$ hero) :is death
senten$e was anno'n$ed to hi&) That instant he dies D #or one who does not
BA
'nderstand that the whole -ower o# the s-irit is re,'ired #or dying and that the hero
always dies be#ore he dies that &an will not get so +ery #ar with his $on$e-tion o#
li#e) So as a hero it is re,'ired o# So$rates that he re-ose tran,'illy in hi&sel# b't as
an intelle$t'al tragi$ hero it is re,'ired o# hi& that he at the last &o&ent ha+e s-irit'al
strength s'##i$ient to $arry hi&sel# thro'gh) So he $annot like the ordinary tragi$ hero
$on$entrate '-on kee-ing hi&sel# #a$e to #a$e with death b't he &'st &ake this
&o+e&ent so ,'i$kly that at the sa&e instant he is $ons$io'sly well o+er and beyond
this stri#e and asserts hi&sel#) 8# So$rates had been silent in the $risis o# death he
wo'ld ha+e weakened the e##e$t o# his li#e and aro'sed the s's-i$ion that in hi& the
elasti$ity o# irony was not an ele&ental -ower b't a ga&e the #le/ibility o# whi$h he
had to e&-loy at the de$isi+e &o&ent to s'stain hi& e&otionally)M
ME-inions &ay be di+ided as to whi$h re>oinder o# So$rates is to be regarded as the
de$isi+e one inas&'$h as So$rates has been in so &any ways +olatili(ed by "lato) 8
-ro-ose the #ollowing) The senten$e o# death is anno'n$ed to hi& the sa&e instant he
dies the sa&e instant he o+er$o&es death and $arries hi&sel# thro'gh in the #a&o's
re-ly whi$h e/-resses s'r-rise that he had been $onde&ned by a &a>ority o# three
+otes) With no +ag'e and idle talk in the &arket-la$e with no #oolish re&ark o# an
idiot $o'ld he ha+e >ested &ore ironi$ally than with the senten$e whi$h $onde&ned
hi& to death)
What is brie#ly s'ggested here has to be s're no a--li$ation to 4braha& in $ase one
&ight think it -ossible to #ind o't by analogy an a--ro-riate word #or 4braha& to end
with b't it does a--ly to this e/tent that one thereby -er$ei+es how ne$essary it is
that 4braha& at the last &o&ent &'st $arry hi&sel# thro'gh &'st not silently draw
the kni#e b't &'st ha+e a word to say sin$e as the #ather o# #aith he has absol'te
signi#i$an$e in a s-irit'al sense) 4s to what he &'st say 8 $an #or& no $on$e-tion
be#orehand 0 a#ter he has said it 8 $an &aybe 'nderstand it &aybe in a $ertain sense
$an 'nderstand 4braha& in what he says tho'gh witho't getting any $loser to hi&
than 8 ha+e been in the #oregoing dis$'ssion) 8n $ase no last re>oinder o# So$rates had
e/isted 8 sho'ld ha+e been able to think &ysel# into hi& and #or&'late s'$h a word 0
i# 8 were 'nable to do it a -oet $o'ld b't no -oet $an $at$h '- with 4braha&)
2e#ore 8 go on to $onsider 4braha&=s last word &ore $losely 8 wo'ld $all attention to
the di##i$'lty 4braha& had in saying anything at all) The distress and ang'ish in the
-arado/ $onsisted (as was set #orth abo+e) in silen$e D 4braha& $annot s-eak)M
M8# there $an be any ,'estion o# an analogy the $ir$'&stan$e o# the death o#
"ythagoras #'&ishes it #or the silen$e whi$h he had always &aintained he had to
$arry thro'gh in his last &o&ent and there#ore 6being $o&-elled to s-eak? he said
1 8t is better to be -'t to death than to s-eak 3 ($#) Diogenes Laerti's +iii) 3!))
So in +iew o# this #a$t it is a $ontradi$tion to re,'ire hi& to s-eak 'nless one wo'ld
ha+e hi& o't o# the -arado/ again in s'$h a sense that at the last &o&ent he s's-ends
B8
it whereby he $eases to be 4braha& and ann'ls all that went be#ore) So then i#
4braha& at the last &o&ent were to say to 8saa$ 1 To thee it a--lies 3 this wo'ld
only ha+e been a weakness) Cor i# he $o'ld s-eak at all he o'ght to ha+e s-oken long
be#ore and the weakness in this $ase wo'ld $onsist in the #a$t that he did not -ossess
the &at'rity o# s-irit and the $on$entration to think in ad+an$e the whole -ain b't had
thr'st so&ething away #ro& hi& so that the a$t'al -ain $ontained a -l's o+er and
abo+e the tho'ght -ain) <oreo+er by s'$h a s-ee$h he wo'ld #all o't o# the role o#
the -arado/ and i# he really wanted to s-eak to 8saa$ he &'st trans#or& his sit'ation
into a te&-tation (.nfechtung) #or otherwise he $o'ld say nothing and i# he were to
do that then he is not e+en so &'$h as a tragi$ hero)
:owe+er a last word o# 4braha& has been -reser+ed and in so #ar as 8 $an
'nderstand the -arado/ 8 $an also a--rehend the total -resen$e o# 4braha& in this
word) Cirst and #ore&ost he does not say anything and it is in this #or& he says what
he has to say) :is re-ly to 8saa$ has the #or& o# irony #or it always is irony when 8 say
so&ething and do not say anything) 8saa$ interrogates 4braha& on the s'--osition
that 4braha& knows) So then i# 4braha& were to ha+e re-lied 1 8 know nothing 3 he
wo'ld ha+e 'ttered an 'ntr'th) :e $annot say anything #or what he knows he $annot
say) So he re-lies 1 9od will -ro+ide :i&sel# the la&b #or the b'&t o##ering &y
son) 3 :ere the do'ble &o+e&ent in 4braha&=s so'l is e+ident as it was des$ribed in
the #oregoing dis$'ssion) 8# 4braha& had &erely reno'n$ed his $lai& to 8saa$ and had
done no &ore he wo'ld in this last word be saying an 'ntr'th #or he knows that 9od
de&ands 8saa$ as a sa$ri#i$e and he knows that he hi&sel# at that instant -re$isely is
ready to sa$ri#i$e hi&) We see then that a#ter &aking this &o+e&ent he &ade e+ery
instant the ne/t &o+e&ent the &o+e&ent o# #aith by +irt'e o# the abs'rd) 2e$a'se o#
this he 'tters no #alsehood #or in +irt'e o# the abs'rd it is o# $o'rse -ossible that 9od
$o'ld do so&ething entirely di##erent) :en$e he is s-eaking no 'ntr'th b't neither is
he saying anything #or he s-eaks a #oreign lang'age) This be$o&es still &ore e+ident
when we $onsider that it was 4braha& hi&sel# who &'st -er#or& the sa$ri#i$e o#
8saa$) :ad the task been a di##erent one had the Lord $o&&anded 4braha& to bring
8saa$ o't to <o'nt <oriah and then wo'ld :i&sel# ha+e 8saa$ str'$k by lightning and
in this way re$ei+e hi& as a sa$ri#i$e then taking his words in a -lain sense
4braha& &ight ha+e been right in s-eaking enig&ati$ally as he did #or he $o'ld not
hi&sel# know what wo'ld o$$'r) 2't in the way the task was -res$ribed to 4braha&
he hi&sel# had to a$t and at the de$isi+e &o&ent he &'st know what he hi&sel#
wo'ld do he &'st know that 8saa$ will be sa$ri#i$ed) 8n $ase he did not know this
de#initely then he has not &ade the in#inite &o+e&ent o# resignation then tho'gh his
word is not indeed an 'ntr'th he is +ery #ar #ro& being 4braha& he has less
signi#i$an$e than the tragi$ hero yea he is an irresol'te &an who is 'nable to resol+e
either on one thing or another and #or this reason will always be 'ttering riddles) 2't
s'$h a hesitator is a sheer -arody o# a knight o# #aith)
:ere again it a--ears that one &ay ha+e an 'nderstanding o# 4braha& b't $an
'nderstand hi& only in the sa&e way as one 'nderstands the -arado/) Cor &y -art 8
$an in a way 'nderstand 4braha& b't at the sa&e ti&e 8 a--rehend that 8 ha+e not the
$o'rage to s-eak and still less to a$t as he did D b't by this 8 do not by any &eans
intend to say that what he did was insigni#i$ant #or on the $ontrary it is the one only
&ar+el)
B!
4nd what did the $onte&-orary age think o# the tragi$ hero F They tho'ght that he
was great and they ad&ired hi&) 4nd that honorable asse&bly o# nobles the >'ry
whi$h e+ery generation i&-anels to -ass >'dg&ent '-on the #oregoing generation
-assed the sa&e >'dg&ent '-on hi&) 2't as #or 4braha& there was no one who $o'ld
'nderstand hi&) 4nd yet think what he attained 5 :e re&ained tr'e to his lo+e) 2't he
who lo+es 9od has no need o# tears no need o# ad&iration in his lo+e he #orgets his
s'##ering yea so $o&-letely has he #orgotten it that a#terwards there wo'ld not e+en
be the least inkling o# his -ain i# 9od :i&sel# did not re$all it #or 9od sees in se$ret
and knows the distress and $o'nts the tears and #orgets nothing)
So either there is a -arado/ that the indi+id'al as the indi+id'al stands in an absol'te
relation to the absol'te or 4braha& is lost)
*-ilog'e
Ene ti&e in :olland when the &arket was rather d'll #or s-i$es the &er$hants had
se+eral $argoes d'&-ed into the sea to -eg '- -ri$es) This was a -ardonable -erha-s
a ne$essary de+i$e #or del'ding -eo-le) 8s it so&ething like that we need now in the
world o# s-irit F 4re we so thoro'ghly $on+in$ed that we ha+e attained the highest
-oint that there is nothing le#t #or 's b't to &ake o'rsel+es belie+e -io'sly that we
ha+e not got so #ar D >'st #or the sake o# ha+ing so&ething le#t to o$$'-y o'r ti&e F 8s
it s'$h a sel#.de$e-tion the -resent generation has need o# does it need to be trained
to +irt'osity in sel#.de$e-tion or is it not rather s'##i$iently -er#e$ted already in the
art o# de$ei+ing itsel# F Er rather is not the thing &ost needed an honest serio'sness
whi$h da'ntlessly and in$orr'-tibly -oints to the tasks an honest serio'sness whi$h
lo+ingly wat$hes o+er the tasks whi$h does not #righten &en into being o+er hasty in
getting the highest tasks a$$o&-lished b't kee-s the tasks yo'ng and bea'ti#'l and
$har&ing to look '-on and yet di##i$'lt withal and a--ealing to noble &inds) Cor the
enth'sias& o# noble nat'res is aro'sed only by di##i$'lties) Whate+er the one
generation &ay learn #ro& the other that whi$h is gen'inely h'&an no generation
learns #ro& the #oregoing) 8n this res-e$t e+ery generation begins -ri&iti+ely has no
di##erent task #ro& that o# e+ery -re+io's generation nor does it get #'rther e/$e-t in
so #ar as the -re$eding generation shirked its task and del'ded itsel#) This
a'thenti$ally h'&an #a$tor is -assion in whi$h also the one generation -er#e$tly
'nderstands the other and 'nderstands itsel#) Th's no generation has learned #ro&
another to lo+e no generation begins at any other -oint than at the beginning no
generation has a shorter task assigned to it than had the -re$eding generation and i#
here one is not willing like the -re+io's generations to sto- with lo+e b't wo'ld go
#'rther this is b't idle and #oolish talk)
2't the highest -assion in a &an is #aith and here no generation begins at any other
-oint than did the -re$eding generation e+ery generation begins all o+er again the
s'bse,'ent generation gets no #'rther than the #oregoing D in so #ar as this re&ained
#aith#'l to its task and did not lea+e it in the l'r$h) That this sho'ld be weariso&e is o#
AL
$o'rse so&ething the generation $annot say #or the generation has in #a$t the task to
-er#or& and has nothing to do with the $onsideration that the #oregoing generation
had the sa&e task D 'nless the -arti$'lar generation or the -arti$'lar indi+id'als
within it were -res'&-t'o's eno'gh to ass'&e the -la$e whi$h belongs by right only
to the S-irit whi$h go+erns the world and has -atien$e eno'gh not to grow weary) 8#
the generation begins that sort o# thing it is '-side down and what wonder then that
the whole o# e/isten$e see&s to it '-side down #or there s'rely is no one who has
#o'nd the world so '-side down as did the tailor in the #airy tale who went '- in his
li#eti&e to hea+en and #ro& that stand-oint $onte&-lated the world) 8# the generation
wo'ld only $on$ern itsel# abo't its task whi$h is the highest thing it $an do it $annot
grow weary #or the task is always s'##i$ient #or a h'&an li#e) When the $hildren on a
holiday ha+e already got thro'gh -laying all their ga&es be#ore the $lo$k strikes
twel+e and say i&-atiently 1 8s there nobody $an think o# a new ga&e F 3 does this
-ro+e that these $hildren are &ore de+elo-ed and &ore ad+an$ed than the $hildren o#
the sa&e generation or o# a -re+io's one who $o'ld stret$h o't the #a&iliar ga&es to
last the whole day long F Er does it not -ro+e rather that these $hildren la$k what 8
wo'ld $all the lo+able serio'sness whi$h belongs essentially to -lay F
Caith is the highest -assion in a &an) There are -erha-s &any in e+ery generation who
do not e+en rea$h it b't no one gets #'rther) Whether there be &any in o'r age who
do not dis$o+er it 8 will not de$ide 8 dare only a--eal to &ysel# as a witness who
&akes no se$ret that the -ros-e$ts #or hi& are not the best witho't #or all that
wanting to del'de hi&sel# and to betray the great thing whi$h is #aith by red'$ing it to
an insigni#i$an$e to an ail&ent o# $hildhood whi$h one &'st wish to get o+er as soon
as -ossible) 2't #or the &an also who does not so &'$h as rea$h #aith li#e has tasks
eno'gh and i# one lo+es the& sin$erely li#e will by no &eans be wasted e+en tho'gh
it ne+er is $o&-arable to the li#e o# those who sensed and gras-ed the highest) 2't he
who rea$hed #aith (it &akes no di##eren$e whether he be a &an o# disting'ished
talents or a si&-le &an) does not re&ain standing at #aith yea he wo'ld be o##ended
i# anyone were to say this o# hi& >'st as the lo+er wo'ld be indignant i# one said that
he re&ained standing at lo+e #or he wo'ld re-ly 1 8 do not re&ain standing by any
&eans &y whole li#e is in this) 3 %e+ertheless he does not get #'rther does not rea$h
anything di##erent #or i# he dis$o+ers this he has a di##erent e/-lanation #or it)
1 Ene &'st go #'rther one &'st go #'rther) 3 This i&-'lse to go #'rther is an an$ient
thing in the world) :era$lit's the obs$'re who de-osited his tho'ghts in his writings
and his writings in the Te&-le o# Diana (#or his tho'ghts had been his ar&or d'ring
his li#e and there#ore he h'ng the& '- in the te&-le o# the goddess) :era$lit's the
obs$'re said 1 Ene $annot -ass twi$e thro'gh the sa&e strea&) 3 6"lato=s Irat&&us
V4L@)? :era$lit's the obs$'re had a dis$i-le who did not sto- with that he went
#'rther and added 1 Ene $annot do it e+en on$e) 3 6K#) Tenne&ann Geschichte der
#hi&osophie 8 -) @@L)? "oor :era$lit's to ha+e s'$h a dis$i-le 5 2y this a&end&ent
the thesis o# :era$lit's was so i&-ro+ed that it be$a&e an *leati$ thesis whi$h denies
&o+e&ent and yet that dis$i-le desired only to be a dis$i-le o# :era$lit's ; and to
go #'rther D not ba$k to the -osition :era$lit's had abandoned)
A1