“Trouble is the common denominator of living. It is the great equalizer.”

Søren Kierkegaard Quotes Proverbs, and Aphorisms(Fictional image. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.)
Søren Kierkegaard Quotes Proverbs, and Aphorisms(Fictional image. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.)
  • May 5, 1813 – November 11, 1855
  • Danish
  • Philosopher, Theologian, Poet, Father of Existentialism

Quote

“Trouble is the common denominator of living. It is the great equalizer.”

Explanation

This quote underscores Kierkegaard’s view that suffering is an inescapable and unifying part of the human condition. Regardless of social status, intellect, or background, every person encounters trouble—whether through loss, doubt, despair, or struggle. It is in this universal experience of hardship that human beings find a shared reality, stripping away superficial differences and exposing our common vulnerability. In this way, trouble is the great equalizer, binding all lives together through a thread of affliction.

Kierkegaard’s writings are filled with reflections on despair, anxiety, and the necessity of suffering as conditions for spiritual growth. Living in 19th-century Denmark, he observed how people tried to escape inward difficulty through conformity or distraction. Instead, he insisted that facing trouble directly was the beginning of truth. Through suffering, one is forced into self-awareness, challenged to find meaning, and perhaps drawn toward faith or transformation.

In contemporary life, this insight remains relevant. Despite the illusion of control or comfort, everyone must confront uncertainty, failure, illness, or grief. Kierkegaard’s point is not to glorify suffering, but to recognize its central role in shaping human depth and humility. Trouble, rather than separating us, reminds us of our shared humanity, and opens the possibility of compassion, resilience, and insight.

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