Johan Huizinga Quotes & Sayings

“It is impossible to strive for the heroic life. The title of hero is bestowed by the survivors upon the fallen, who themselves know nothing of heroism.”

“Every age yearns for a more beautiful world. The deeper the desperation and the depression about the confusing present, the more intense that yearning.”

“Play is a uniquely adaptive act, not subordinate to some other adaptive act, but with a special function of its own in human experience.”

“Culture must have its ultimate aim in the metaphysical or it will cease to be culture.”

“These are strange times. Reason, which once combatted faith and seemed to have conquered it, now has to look to faith to save it from dissolution.”

“An aristocratic culture does not advertise its emotions. In its forms of expression it is sober and reserved. Its general attitude is stoic.”

“You only live a short time... and you are dead a long time.”

“We can't put up a protectionist dam on our own against the neo-liberal world market either. However, we can try, together with our European partners, to maintain the social character of Europe as much as possible.”

“A superstition which pretends to be scientific creates a much greater confusion of thought than one which contents itself with simple popular practices.”

“Physical nature lies at our feet shackled with a hundred chains. What of the control of human nature? Do not point to the triumphs of psychiatry, social services or the war against crime. Domination of human nature can only mean the domination of every man by himself.”