“Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many in every generation may not come that far, but none comes further.”
- May 5, 1813 – November 11, 1855
- Danish
- Philosopher, Theologian, Poet, Father of Existentialism
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Quote
“Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many in every generation may not come that far, but none comes further.”
Explanation
This quote expresses Kierkegaard’s view that faith represents the pinnacle of human inward experience and existential commitment. It is not merely belief or religious affiliation, but a passion that requires the full engagement of the self—mind, heart, and will. Faith, for Kierkegaard, is the act of trusting and committing beyond the limits of reason, especially in the face of uncertainty or paradox. As such, it stands above all other passions, including aesthetic enjoyment, intellectual inquiry, or even ethical striving.
Kierkegaard believed that while not everyone achieves faith, no one can surpass it—not in knowledge, power, or virtue. Faith is the culmination of the soul’s journey, the moment when a person places themselves wholly before God, embracing the absurd and relinquishing the demand for certainty. This was most powerfully illustrated in his concept of the “leap of faith”, a defining act that transcends rational calculation and brings the individual into true relation with the eternal.
In the modern world, where skepticism and reason often reign supreme, Kierkegaard’s words challenge us to reconsider what it means to be truly passionate and fully human. Intellectual achievement or moral progress can take us far, but Kierkegaard insists that faith alone demands everything—and gives everything in return. It is not a retreat from thought or doubt, but the deepest expression of courage, vulnerability, and spiritual truth a person can attain.
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