WIST

Many a man can save himself if he admits he’s done wrong and takes his punishment.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
A Doll’s House, Act 1 [Torvald Helmer] (1879)

A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
An Enemy of the People, “Billing,” Act 1 (1882)

A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.

Ikke tusend ord
sig prenter, som én gernings spor.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
Brand, “Manden,” Act 2 (1866)
Alt. trans.: "A thousand words can't make the mark a single deed will leave."

Oh courage … oh yes! If only one had that … Then life might be livable, in spite of everything.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
Hedda Gabler, Act 2 [Hedda] (1890)

Castles in the air — they are so easy to take refuge in. And so easy to build, too.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
The Master Builder, Act 3 [Hilda] (1892)

Look into any man’s heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to keep concealed.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
The Pillars of Society, Act 3 [Bernick] (1877)

I hold that man is in the right who is most closely in league with the future.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
Letter to Georg Brandes (3 Jan 1882)