1001Philosophers

Friedrich Nietzsche vs Soren Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard and Nietzsche are often grouped as the founders of existentialism, but the two never read each other and reach almost opposite conclusions about the existence of God. The pairing is the proto-existential dispute over Christianity.

At a glance

Friedrich NietzscheSoren Kierkegaard
Dates1844 – 19001813 – 1855
NationalityGermanDanish
EraModernModern
Movements Existentialism, Continental Philosophy Existentialism, Christian Philosophy
Profile Friedrich Nietzsche → Soren Kierkegaard →

Where they agree

Both attacked the Hegelian system as failing to address the existing individual, both insisted that genuine philosophical seriousness requires a personal commitment that no third-person system can deliver, and both treated decisiveness rather than mere theoretical insight as the mark of a serious thinker. Both wrote in unconventional literary forms — pseudonymous works, aphorisms — that resist treatment as standard philosophical doctrine.

Where they disagree

Kierkegaard's existing individual stands before God in an absolute relation that demands the leap of faith — a non-rational personal commitment to Christianity as the ultimate paradox. Nietzsche held that Christianity is a slave morality whose hold on European civilization must be overcome, and that the death of God is the central event of modernity, opening space for the creation of new values. Where Kierkegaard's individual finds meaning in obedience to God, Nietzsche's seeks it in self-overcoming and the affirmation of life without religious consolation.

Representative quotes

Friedrich Nietzsche

  • “Postcard to Franz Overbeck , Sils-Maria (30 July 1881), tr. Walter Kaufmann , The Portable Nietzsche (1954)”

    I am utterly amazed, utterly enchanted! I have a precursor , and what a precursor! I hardly knew Spinoza : that I should have turned to him just now , was inspired by "instinct." Not only is his overtendency like mine—namely to make all knowledge the most powerful affect — but in five main points of his doctrine I recognize myself; this most unusual and loneliest thinker is closest to me precisely

  • “Here the ways of men part: if you wish to strive for peace of soul and pleasure, then believe; if you wish to be a devotee of truth, then inquire.”

    Letter to Elisabeth Nietzsche, Bonn, 1865-06-11, [ specific citation needed ] quoted as epigraph in Walter Kaufmann, The Faith of a Heretic (1961)

  • “Letter to Elisabeth Nietzsche, Bonn, 1865-06-11, [ specific citation needed ] quoted as epigraph in Walter Kaufmann, The Faith of a Heretic (1961)”

    Here the ways of men part: if you wish to strive for peace of soul and pleasure, then believe; if you wish to be a devotee of truth, then inquire.

Soren Kierkegaard

  • “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

    Det er ganske sandt, hvad Philosophien siger, at Livet maa forstaaes baglænds. Men derover glemmer man den anden Sætning, at det maa leves forlænds.

  • “Purity of heart is to will one thing.”

    The two guides call out to a man early and late. And yet, no, for when remorse calls to a man it is always late. The call to find the way again by seeking out God in the confession of sins is always at the eleventh hour. Whether you are young or old, whether you have sinned much or little, whether you have offended much or neglected much, the guilt makes this call come at the eleventh hour. The in

  • “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”

    How absurd men are! They never use the liberties they have, they demand those they do not have. They have freedom of thought , they demand freedom of speech .

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