Quotes from August Strindberg

Happiness consumes itself like a flame. It cannot burn for ever, it must go out, and the presentiment of its end destroys it at its very peak.

Now I know the full power of evil. It makes ugliness seem beautiful and goodness seem ugly and weak.

I do not care about my own appearance, but I would hope that people could see into my soul, and that is presented better in these photographs than in others. (On his self-portraits)

Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.

Why is it so painful to watch a person sink? Because there is something unnatural in it, for nature demands personal progress, evolution, and every backward step means wasted energy.

Religion must be a punishment, because nobody gets religion who does not have a bad conscience.

What is economics? A science invented by the upper class in order to acquire the fruits of the labor of the underclass

The world, life and human beings are only an illusion, a phantom, a dream image.

I find my joy of living in the fierce and ruthless battles of life, and my pleasure comes from learning something.

Society is a madhouse whose wardens are the officials and the police.

Life is not so idiotically mathematical that only the big eat the small; it is just as common for a bee to kill a lion or at least to drive it mad.

People are constantly clamoring for the joy of life. As for me, I find the joy of life in the hard and cruel battle of life - to learn something is a joy to me.

I always disliked dogs, those protectors of cowards who lack the courage to fight an assailant themselves.

Meeting each other and leaving each other. Leaving and meeting. That's what life is!

People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.

I dream, therefore I exist.

When I free my body from its clothes, from all their buttons, belts, and laces, it seems to me that my soul takes a deeper, freer breath.

People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.

Happiness consumes itself like a flame. It cannot burn for ever, it must go out, and the presentiment of its end destroys it at its very peak.

I always disliked dogs, those protectors of cowards who lack the courage to fight an assailant themselves.

That is the thankless position of the father in the family - the provider for all, and the enemy of all.

Oh, I have loved him too much to feel no hate for him.

People are constantly clamoring for the joy of life. As for me, I find the joy of life in the hard and cruel battle of life -- to learn something is a joy to me.

Sorrow has the fortunate peculiarity that it preys upon itself. It dies of starvation. Since it is essentially an interruption of habits, it can be replaced by new habits. Constituting, as it does, a void, it is soon filled up by a real horror vacuum.