Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsenwas a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of realism" and is one of the founders of Modernism in theatre. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, An Enemy of the People, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, The Master Builder and John Gabriel Borkman. He is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare, and A Doll's House...
NationalityNorwegian
ProfessionPlaywright
Date of Birth20 March 1828
CitySkien, Norway
CountryNorway
If I cannot be myself in what I write, then the whole is nothing but lies and humbug.
What sort of truths are they that the majority usually supports? They are truths that are of such advanced age that they are beginning to break up. And if a truth is as old as that, it is also in a fair way to become a lie, gentlemen.
I am in revolt against the age-old lie that the majority is always right.
I'm plotting revolution against this lie that the majority has a monopoly of the truth. What are these truths that always bring the majority rallying round? Truths so elderly they are practically senile. And when a truth is as old as that, gentlemen, you can hardly tell it from a lie.
In great memories there lies the seed of growth.
Don't use that foreign word 'ideals.' We have that excellent native word 'lies.'
The costliness of keeping friends does not lie in what one does for them, but in what one, out of consideration for them, refrains from doing.
I propose to raise a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly of the truth.
There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At home one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the children.
It is no use lying to one's self.
The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That's one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help rebelling against. Who are the people that make up the biggest proportion of the population -- the intelligent ones or the fools?
Take the life-lie away from the average man and straight away you take away his happiness.
The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone.
Emperor? You old fake! / You're no Emperor. You're just an onion. / Now then, little Peer, I'm going to peel you.