Knut Hamsun Quotes

Norwegian - Author August 4, 1859 - February 19, 1952

When good befalls a man he calls it Providence, when evil fate. Knut Hamsun

Fate, Calls, Providence

There is nothing like being left alone again, to walk peacefully with oneself in the woods. To boil one's coffee and fill one's pipe, and to think idly and slowly as one does it. Knut Hamsun

Think, Nothing, Like

I have gone to the forest. Knut Hamsun

In my solitude, many miles from men and houses, I am in a childishly happy and carefree state of mind, which you are incapable of understanding unless someone explains it to you. Knut Hamsun

Mind, Carefree, Which

In old age we are like a batch of letters that someone has sent. We are no longer in the past, we have arrived. Knut Hamsun

Age, Like, In The Past

You are welcome to your intellectual pastimes and books and art and newspapers; welcome, too, to your bars and your whisky that only makes me ill. Here am I in the forest, quite content. Knut Hamsun

Art, Forest, Here

For I mean to roam and think and make great irons red-hot. Knut Hamsun

Think, Mean, Irons

Heaven knows that there are plenty of opportunities in later life, too, for being carried away. What of it? We remain what we are and, no doubt, it is all very good for us! Knut Hamsun

Carried, Away, Very

However, I must not indulge in homespun wisdom here before so distinguished an assembly, especially as I am to be followed by a representative of science. Knut Hamsun

Here, However, Before

I have had much to learn from Sweden's poetry and, more especially, from her lyrics of the last generation. Knut Hamsun

Generation, Learn, Last

It is as well perhaps that this is not the first time I have been swept off my feet. In the days of my blessed youth there were such occasions; in what young person's life do they not occur? Knut Hamsun

Feet, Young, Been

No worse fate can befall a young man or woman than becoming prematurely entrenched in prudence and negation. Knut Hamsun

Woman, Fate, Negation

No, what I should really like to do right now, in the full blaze of lights, before this illustrious assembly, is to shower every one of you with gifts, with flowers, with offerings of poetry - to be young once more, to ride on the crest of the wave. Knut Hamsun

Young, Shower, Before

Today riches and honours have been lavished on me, but one gift has been lacking, the most important one of all, the only one that matters, the gift of youth. Knut Hamsun

Gift, The Most Important

Were I more conversant with literature and its great names, I could go on quoting them ad infinitum and acknowledge my debt for the merit you have been generous enough to find in my work. Knut Hamsun

Been, Quoting, Ad

Loading...

Load more quotes

Related Authors

Henry David Thoreau

Joseph Campbell

BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote Of The Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

BQ on Instagram

Apps

iPhone/iPad app

Quote Of The Day Feeds

Javascript and RSS feeds

WordPress plugin

Quote of the Day Email

About

Copyright © 2001 - 2018 BrainyQuote

Language: Español | Français

OK