Quotes by Henrik Pontoppidan

“One entry was entitled: "About God": "This thought has been ascribed to Voltaire: If God did not exist, mankind would have invented Him. I find more truth in the reverse: If there really is a God, then we should seek to forget Him, to raise up men who will to do good for goodness' sake, not out of fear of punishment for their bad deeds. How can someone give alms to a poor man with a clean heart when he believes, and has an interest in believing, that there is a God who keeps score in heaven, who looks down and nods in approval?”

“Desi mi-e groaza de paradoxuri, sunt de parere ca norocul insusi este cel mai mare ghinion care poate lovi un om in zilele noastre, pentru ca... da, pentru ca in noua sute nouazeci si noua de cazuri dintr-o mie, ne lipseste capacitatea de a-l folosi in asa fel incat sa profitam de el, si nu sa ne faca rau. In vremea noastra ne-am dezvatat sa manevram cu indemanare miraculosul , asta-i! Ne purtam la masa norocului ca taranul la ospatul regelui.”

“Every man’s soul is an independent universe, his death the extinction of the universe in miniature.”