Dag Hammarskjold Quotes

A collection of quotes by Dag Hammarskjold.

Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961) was a Swedish statesman who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) from 1953 until his untimely death in 1961. Born in Jönköping, Sweden, Hammarskjold came from a highly influential political family. After completing his education in Uppsala and Stockholm, he gained expertise in economics and political science, working in government positions and as an influential public servant.

Hammarskjold became internationally recognized for his diplomatic skills and unwavering commitment to peace. During his tenure as Secretary-General, he played a crucial role in mediating the Suez Crisis, successfully diffusing tensions between Egypt, Britain, France, and Israel. He advocated for the decolonization of Africa and actively worked towards resolving conflicts in various regions of the world.

Hammarskjold was known for his deep introspection and spiritual beliefs, reflected in his book "Markings," a compilation of his personal thoughts and reflections. He emphasized the importance of individuals taking personal responsibility for global issues and their impact on others.

Tragically, Hammarskjold's life was cut short when his plane crashed in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in September 1961 while en route to ceasefire negotiations in the Congo Crisis. His untimely death shocked the world, and his legacy as a tireless peacemaker and advocate for global cooperation continues to inspire generations.

Your body must become familiar with its death - in all its p

Your body must become familiar with its death - in all its possible forms and degrees - as a self-evident, imminent, and emotionally neutral step on the way towards the goal you have found worthy of your life.

Dag Hammarskjold

Death

Do not seek death. Death will find you. But seek the road wh

Do not seek death. Death will find you. But seek the road which makes death a fulfillment.

Dag Hammarskjold

Death

Maturity - among other things, the unclouded happiness of th

Maturity - among other things, the unclouded happiness of the child at play, who takes it for granted that he is at one with his play-mates.

Dag Hammarskjold

Happiness

Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding somethin

Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.

Dag Hammarskjold

Great

Friendship needs no words - it is solitude delivered from th

Friendship needs no words - it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness.

Dag Hammarskjold

Friendship

The Assembly has witnessed over the last weeks how historica

The Assembly has witnessed over the last weeks how historical truth is established once an allegation has been repeated a few times, it is no longer an allegation, it is an established fact, even if no evidence has been brought out in order to support it.

Dag Hammarskjold

Truth

God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a pe

God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity, but we die on the day when our lives cease to be illumined by the steady radiance, renewed daily, of a wonder, the source of which is beyond all reason.

Dag Hammarskjold

God