Quotessence
Home / Authors / Etty Hillesum
Etty Hillesum

Etty Hillesum Quotes

Woman of letters

Filter quotes by topic

AllIfsPeaceWorldSometimesEnoughHateMomentsPrayerSufferingThinkingAbleAcceptanceEnergyFeelsFightingGivingHumansLife IsLovePeople

Famous Etty Hillesum Quotes

“ought we not, from time to time, open ourselves up to cosmic sadness? ... Give your sorrow all the space and shelter in yourself that is its due, for if everyone bears his grief honestly and courageously, the sorrow that now fills the world will abate. But if you do not clear a decent shelter for your sorrow, and instead reserve most of the space inside you for hatred and thoughts of revenge-from which new sorrows will be born for others-then sorrow will never cease in this world and will multiply.”

IfsWorldGivingBornSpaceGriefClearSadnessThis WorldBearsOughtSorrowHatredRevengeDuesHonestlyCeaseDecentCosmicShelterReserves
Author:Etty Hillesum
Create image

“Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.”

WorldPeaceMoralDutyAreasJust OneBeing At PeaceAchieving PeaceTrue PeaceMoral DutyPeace With Others
Book:An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943
Create image

“Become simple and live simply, not only within yourself but also in your everyday dealings. Don’t make ripples all around you, don’t try to be interesting, keep your distance, be honest, fight the desire to be thought fascinating by the outside world.”

WorldTryingDesireFightingSimpleInterestingHonestDistanceEverydayBeing HonestFascinatingOutside WorldRippleDealingsLive Simply
Book:Etty: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943
Create image