Peter Wessel Zapffe
1899 - 1990
5
Quotes
Biography
Peter Wessel Zapffe (1899-1990) was a Norwegian philosopher, writer, and mountaineer. He is best known for his philosophical essay 'The Last Messiah,' where he delves into the complex human condition, exploring themes of existentialism, absurdity, and the human desire for distraction in the face of the harsh realities of life. Zapffe's works have had a profound influence on existentialist philosophy and his ideas continue to be studied and debated in academic circles.
Famous Quotes (5)
1
The more one seeks the good, the more one finds barriers. The good is, like nature, an impenetrable dictatorship.
2
One night, I whispered to Nature: 'I would like to retrace my steps and learn what life has taught me.' But it was already too late. The stars flickered, winds swept my words away, and the dawn was breaking. And my heart said to me: 'This is the end.'
3
Is it not better to perish all at once than little by little, with the constant degradation of faculties?
4
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
5
Ultimately we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.