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Etty Hillesum Quotes

Woman of letters

Etty Hillesum was a Dutch writer and diarist, born on January 15, 1914, and died on November 30, 1943. Her works are known for their profound personal insights and philosophical reflections on human existence.

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All Ifs Peace World Sometimes Enough Hate Moments Prayer Suffering Thinking Able Acceptance Energy Feels Fighting Giving Humans Life Is Love People

Famous Etty Hillesum Quotes

“One should accept things as they are and not try to lift them to impossible heights; only if you let them be will they reveal their true worth.”

Awareness Acceptance Worth

Book:An Interrupted Life: The Diaries, 1941-1943; and Letters from Westerbork

Source: An Interrupted Life: The Diaries, 1941-1943; and Letters from Westerbork

“That is your disease: you want to capture life in formulas of your own. You want to embrace all aspects of life with your intellect instead of allowing yourself to be embraced by life. You want to create the world all over again each time, instead of enjoying it as it is.”

Life Acceptance Embodiment Intellectualization

Book:An Interrupted Life: The Diaries, 1941-1943; and Letters from Westerbork

Source: An Interrupted Life: The Diaries, 1941-1943; and Letters from Westerbork

“Such words as 'God' and 'Death' and 'Suffering' and 'Eternity' are best forgotten. We have to become as simple and as wordless as the growing corn or the falling rain. We must just be.”

Suffering Fall Simple Growing Acceptance Rain Eternity Forgotten Corn

Book:Etty: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943

Source: Etty: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943

“That I should die next week, I would still be able to sit at my desk all week and study with perfect equanimity, for I know now that life and death make a meaningful whole.”

Knows Should Stills Whole Able Dies Next Perfect Study Week Acceptance Meaningful Life And Death Desks Next Week Equanimity

Book:An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943

Source: An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943

About the Author

Born: January 15, 1914
Died: November 30, 1943
Known for: Woman of letters
Quotes: 80

Books & Sources

Etty: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943Related source material

An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943Related source material

An Interrupted Life: The Diaries, 1941-1943; and Letters from WesterborkRelated source material

Diario 1941-1943Related source material

Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life and Letters from WesterborkRelated source material

Letters from WesterborkRelated source material

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