The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground Quotes

“A philosopher is a scientific tradesman, who, for a certain price, sells prescriptions of self-denial, temperance and poverty; he generally preaches the pains of wealth, till he becomes rich himself, when he abandons the world for a comfortable and dignified retreat. The father of the philosophers, Seneca, is said to have collected royal wealth.

A poet is one who makes a great stir with printed prattle, falsehood and fury. Madness is the characteristic of the true poet. All those who express themselves, with clearness, precision and simplicity are deemed unworthy of the laurel wreath.

The grammarians are a sort of military body, who disturb the public peace. They are distinguished from all other warriors, by dress and weapons. They wear black instead of colored uniforms, and wield pens rather than swords. They fight with as much obstinacy for letters and words as do the others for liberty and father-land.”
― Ludvig Holberg, The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground

“Hun fikk faktisk feber og døde.”
― Ludvig Holberg, The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground

“A poet is one who makes a great stir with printed prattle, falsehood and fury. Madness is the characteristic of the true poet. All those who express themselves, with clearness, precision and simplicity are deemed unworthy of the laurel wreath.”
― Ludvig Holberg, Niels Klim's Underground Travels

“the intensity of no anger can be compared to the philosophical;”
― Ludvig Holberg, Niels Klim's Underground Travels

“In our Passage to the House, I could not help reflecting how much more Pleasure it must give one to protect Life, than to take it away; and how much happier he must be in catching the Fish with no other Intent than to feed them, than it can be with us, to first torture them with Hooks, and then throw, them on the Ground to expire in Agonies. Surely, if we were to make it our own Case, we should refrain from many Barbarities, that we look upon as Amusements, and not entertain ourselves by tormenting any Thing that has Life for our Diversion, when we are sensible how terrible it would be to us, to be serv'd in the same Manner. For every Thing that has Life, as naturally endeavours to preserve it, and feels Pain as severely as we, the great, self-conceited Lords of the Universe.”
― Ludvig Holberg, The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground

“The cultivators of science purchase books in great quantities, not so much, I am told, for the sake of the contents, as for their antiqueness of style or elegance of binding.”
― Ludvig Holberg, Niels Klim's Journey Under the Ground - Baron Ludvig Holberg (ANNOTATED) Original Content of First Edition

“How weak is that society which relies for its safety on bare human laws. It is like a city built on a volcanic mountain! Little firmness has that political structure which rests not on the foundation of religion.”
― Louis Holberg, Niels Klim's Journey Under the Ground