16 Quotes & Sayings By Isak Dinesen

Isak Dinesen was born in Denmark on October 9, 1885. After her father's death, she went to live with her uncle and aunt, who were living in Copenhagen. Here, she spent the next few years reading and writing poetry. Dinesen had dreamed of becoming a writer since she was a girl Read more

Her first published book, Summer (1910), was a collection of poems. It was followed by two more poetry collections: Winter (1912) and Spring (1917). Isak Dinesen's first novel, Out of Africa (1937), is considered by some critics to be one of the best books ever written about Africa. It tells the story of Karen Blixen (later made famous by the film "Out of Africa").

She also wrote several memoirs, including The Diary of A Life Time, which describes her life between December 1877 and December 1883.

It is an alarming experience to be, in your person,...
1
It is an alarming experience to be, in your person, representing Christianity to the natives. Isak Dinesen
2
After being told that the Professor “found it possible to believe for a moment in the existence of God, ” Isak thought, “Has it been possible to God, at Mount Elgon, to believe for a moment in the existence of Professor Landgreen? Isak Dinesen
3
The true aristocracy and the true proletariat of the world are both in understanding with tragedy. To them it is the fundamental principle of God, and the key, –the minor key, –to existence. They differ in this way from the bourgeoisie of all classes, who deny tragedy, who will not tolerate it, and to whom the word of tragedy means in itself unpleasantness. Isak Dinesen
4
The cure for anything is salt water. Sweat, tears, or the ocean. Isak Dinesen
5
After a little while you became aware of how still it was out here. Now, looking back on my life in Africa, I feel like it might altogether be described as the existence of a person who had come from a rushed and noisy world, into a still country. Isak Dinesen
6
I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way that so many things that one goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. Isak Dinesen
7
Man reaches the highest point of lovableness at 12 to 17 - to get it back in a second flowering at the age of 70 to 90. Isak Dinesen
8
I don't think that ... one gets a flash of happiness once and never again it is there within you and it will come as certainly as death.... Isak Dinesen
9
I don't think that... one gets a flash of happiness once and never again it is there within you and it will come as certainly as death. Isak Dinesen
10
In the mind and nature of a man a secret is an ugly thing like a hidden physical defect. Isak Dinesen
11
Of all the idiots I have met in my life and the Lord knows that they have not been few or little I think that I have been the biggest. Isak Dinesen
12
When you have a great and difficult task something perhaps almost impossible if you only work a little at a time every day a little suddenly the work will finish itself. Isak Dinesen
13
I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. Isak Dinesen
14
Love, with very young people, is a heartless business. We drink at that age from thirst, or to get drunk; it is only later in life that we occupy ourselves with the individuality of our wine. Isak Dinesen
15
I think it will be truly glorious when women become real people and have the whole world open to them. Isak Dinesen