WIST Quotations

Nansen, Fridtjof -- “A New Route to the North Pole,” The Forum (Aug 1891)

Dave — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 01:04:58 +0000

The history of the human race is a continual struggle from darkness towards light. It is, therefore, to no purpose to discuss the use of knowledge; man wants to know, and when he ceases to do so, he is no longer man.

Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930) Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian
“A New Route to the North Pole,” The Forum (Aug 1891)

Nansen, Fridtjof -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:12:56 +0000

It is better to go skiing and think of God, than to go to church and think of sport.

Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930) Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian
(Attributed)

Nansen, Fridtjof -- Quoted in Listener (14 Dec 1939)

Dave — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 16:53:12 +0000

The difficult is what takes a little time; the impossible is what takes a little longer.

Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930) Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian
Quoted in Listener (14 Dec 1939)

Nansen, Fridtjof -- Speech, St Andrews University (3 Nov 1926)

Dave — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:09:50 +0000

Let me tell you the secret of such so-called successes as there have been in my life, and here I believe I give you really good advice. It was to burn my boats and demolish my bridges behind me. Then one loses no time in looking behind, when one should have quite enough to do in looking ahead — then there is no chance for you or your men but forward. You have to do or die!

Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930) Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian
Speech, St Andrews University (3 Nov 1926)

Translated in his Adventure, and Other Papers (1927).