Knut Hamsun Quotes

A collection of quotes by Knut Hamsun.

Knut Hamsun (1859-1952) was a Norwegian author and one of the most prominent figures in Scandinavian literature. Born in the north of Norway, Hamsun developed a passion for literature from a young age and began working as a writer and journalist in his early twenties.

Hamsun gained international recognition with his groundbreaking novel, "Hunger" (1890), which explored the psychological depths of human existence. He further solidified his reputation as a literary innovator with works like "Mysteries" (1892) and "Pan" (1894), showcasing his unique writing style and profound exploration of human thought and emotions.

In 1920, Hamsun was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his remarkable evocation of the author's mind in his novels and his rich imagination. However, his support for the Nazi regime during World War II tarnished his reputation later in life. Hamsun met Adolf Hitler and published articles expressing his admiration for Germany's actions, leading to considerable controversy and condemnation.

Despite the controversy surrounding his political beliefs, Hamsun's literary contributions remain significant, and his novels continue to be studied and appreciated for their psychological depth and poetic language. Hamsun's legacy is characterized by his distinctive storytelling style, which combines elements of realism, symbolism, and stream-of-consciousness techniques.

In old age we are like a batch of letters that someone has s

In old age we are like a batch of letters that someone has sent. We are no longer in the past, we have arrived.

Knut Hamsun


I have had much to learn from Sweden's poetry and, more espe

I have had much to learn from Sweden's poetry and, more especially, from her lyrics of the last generation.

Knut Hamsun

Poetry

There is nothing like being left alone again, to walk peacef

There is nothing like being left alone again, to walk peacefully with oneself in the woods. To boil one's coffee and fill one's pipe, and to think idly and slowly as one does it.

Knut Hamsun

Alone

You are welcome to your intellectual pastimes and books and

You are welcome to your intellectual pastimes and books and art and newspapers welcome, too, to your bars and your whisky that only makes me ill. Here am I in the forest, quite content.

Knut Hamsun

Art

However, I must not indulge in homespun wisdom here before s

However, I must not indulge in homespun wisdom here before so distinguished an assembly, especially as I am to be followed by a representative of science.

Knut Hamsun

Wisdom

No, what I should really like to do right now, in the full b

No, what I should really like to do right now, in the full blaze of lights, before this illustrious assembly, is to shower every one of you with gifts, with flowers, with offerings of poetry - to be young once more, to ride on the crest of the wave.

Knut Hamsun

Poetry