Quotes by Norwegian Authors

Our spirits rose after a few beers, all that lay between us during the day, the silences that could develop from nowhere, the irritation that could set in, the sudden inability to find areas of common interest, even though there were so many, all of that vanished as our spirits soared and we felt the concomitant warmth: we looked at each other and knew who we were.
Knausgaard
The one who says he doesn't understand anything about art, doesn't know himself.
Jostein Gaarder
Yes you may depend upon it he has the ability! He is the younger generation that stands ready to knock at my door - to make an end of Halvard Solness.
Henrik Ibsen
The sea possesses a power over one's moods that has the effect of a will. The sea can hypnotize. Nature in general can do so.
Henrik Ibsen
I demolish my bridges behind me ... then there is no choice but forward.
Firdtjof Nansen
The best thing that can come with success is the knowledge that it is nothing to long for.
Liv Ullmann
Different people have different duties assigned to them by Nature Nature has given one the power or the desire to do this the other that. Each bird must sing with his own throat.
Henrik Ibsen
Let's win this one for the Gipper.
Knute Rockne
The strongest man is the one who stands most alone.
Henrik Ibsen
In order to stand well in the eyes of the community it is necessary to come up to a certain somewhat indefinite conventional standard of wealth.
Thorstein Veblen
I am learning that if I just go on accepting the framework for life that others have given me if I fail to make my own choices the reason for my life will be missing. I will be unable to recognize that which I have the power to change.
Liv Ullmann
What's a man's first duty? The answer is brief: To be himself.
Henrik Ibsen
No doing without some ruing.
Sigrid Undset
Prayer is a condition of mind an attitude of heart which God recognizes as prayer whether it manifests itself in quiet thinking in sighing or in audible words.
O. Hallesby
God alone fully understands what each one of us needs we make mistakes continually and pray for things which would be harmful to us if we received them. Afterwards we see our mistakes and realize that God is good and wise in not giving us these things even though we plead ever so earnestly for them.
O. Hallesby
Prayer brings a good spirit in our homes. For God hears prayer. Heaven itself would come down to our homes. And even though we who constitute the home all have our imperfections and our failings our home would through God's answer to prayer become a little paradise.
O. Hallesby
The shower of answers to your prayers will continue to your dying hour. Nor will it cease then. When you pass out from beneath the shower your dear ones will step into it. Every prayer and every sigh which you have uttered for them and their future welfare will in God's time descend upon them as a gentle rain of answers to prayer.
O. Hallesby
If we will make use of prayer to call down upon ourselves and others those things which will glorify the name of God then we shall see the strongest and boldest promises of the Bible about prayer fulfilled. Then we shall see such answers to prayer as we had never thought were possible.
O. Hallesby
If we pray for anything according to the will of God we already have what we pray for the moment we ask it. We do not know exactly when it will arrive but we have learned to know God through the Spirit of God and have learned to leave this in His hands and to live just as happily whether the answer arrives immediately or later.
O. Hallesby
It is God's will not only to hear our prayer but to give us the best and the richest answer which He the almighty and omniscient God can devise. He will send us the answer when it will benefit us and His cause the most.
O. Hallesby
If God does not give you something you ask for wait on Him. He will speak with you tenderly and sympathetically about the matter until you yourself understand that He cannot grant your prayer.
O. Hallesby
Be sure to remember that nothing in your daily life is so insignificant and so inconsequential that the Lord will not help you by answering your prayer.
O. Hallesby
As white snow flakes fall quietly and thickly on a winter day answers to prayer will settle down upon you at every step you take even to your dying day. The story of your life will be the story of prayer and answers to prayer.
O. Hallesby
A humble and contrite heart knows that it can merit nothing before God and that all that is necessary is to be reconciled to one's helplessness and let our holy and almighty God care for us just as an infant surrenders himself to his mother's care.
O. Hallesby
Our prayer life will become restful when it really dawns upon us that we have done all we are supposed to do when we have spoken to Him about it. From the moment we have left it with Him it is His responsi-bility.
O. Hallesby
We need to learn to know Him so well that we feel safe when we have left our difficulties with Him. To know Jesus in that way is a prerequisite of all true prayer.
O. Hallesby
Do not forget that prayer is ordained for the purpose of glorifying the name of God. Therefore whether you pray for big things or for little things say to God "If it will glorify Thy name then grant my prayer and help me."
O. Hallesby
It is only when we pray for something according to the will of God that we have the promise of being heard and answered.
O. Hallesby
Pray a little each day in a childlike way for the Spirit of prayer. If you feel that you know as yet very little concerning the deep things of prayer and what prayer really is then pray for the Spirit of prayer. There is nothing He would rather do than unveil to you the grace of prayer.
O. Hallesby
When we in prayer seek only the glorification of the name of God then we are in complete harmony with the spirit of prayer. Then our hearts are at rest both while we pray and after we have prayed. Then we can wait for the Lord.
O. Hallesby
Jesus is moved to happiness every time He sees that you appreciate what He has done for you. Grip His pierced hand and say to Him "I thank Thee Savior because Thou hast died for me." Thank Him likewise for all the other blessings He has showered upon you from day to day. It brings joy to Jesus.
O. Hallesby
When we succeed in truly thanking God we feel good at heart. The reason is that we have been created to give glory to God now and for-evermore. And every time we do so we feel that we are in harmony with His plans and purposes for our lives. Then we are truly in our element. That is why it is so blessed.
O. Hallesby
We should say to God as we mingle with our dear ones each day "God give them each Thy blessing. They need it because they live with me and I am very selfish and unwilling to sacrifice very much for them although I do love them."
O. Hallesby
See to it night and day that you pray for your children. Then you will leave them a great legacy of answers to prayer which will follow them all the days of their life. Then you may calmly and with a good conscience depart from them even though you may not leave them a great deal of material wealth.
O. Hallesby
It is not only blessed to give thanks it is also of vital importance to our prayer life in general. If we have noted the Lord's answers to our prayers and thanked Him for what we have received of Him then it becomes easier for us and we get more courage to pray for more.
O. Hallesby
Pray for whatsoever you will. In the name of Jesus you have permission not only to stand in the presence of God but also to pray for everything you need.
O. Hallesby
We should not be afraid when praying to God to give expression to a definite desire even though we are in doubt at the time we are praying whether it is really the right thing to pray for or not.
O. Hallesby
Helplessness becomes prayer the moment that you go to Jesus and speak candidly and confidently with him about your needs. This is to believe.
O. Hallesby
There come times when I have nothing more to tell God. If I were to continue to pray in words I would have to repeat what I have already said. At such times it is wonderful to say to God "May I be in Thy presence Lord? I have nothing more to say to Thee but I do love to be in Thy presence."
O. Hallesby
It is the will of our heavenly Father that we should come to Him freely and confidently and make known our desires to Him just as we would have our children come freely and of their own accord and speak to us about the things they would like to have.
O. Hallesby
My praying friend continue to make known your desires to God in all things. ... Let Him decide whether you are to receive what you ask for or not.
O. Hallesby
Prayer is something deeper than words. It is present in the soul before it has been formulated in words. And it abides in the soul after the last words of prayer have passed over our lips.
O. Hallesby
Our groanings which cannot be uttered rise to Him and tell Him better than words how dependent we are upon Him.
O. Hallesby
When prayer is a struggle do not worry about the prayers that you cannot pray. You yourself are a prayer to God at that moment. All that is within you cries out to Him. And He hears all the pleas that your suffering soul and body are making to Him with groanings which cannot be uttered.
O. Hallesby
Prayer is a fine delicate instrument. To use it right is a great art a holy art. There is perhaps no greater art than the art of prayer. Yet the least gifted the uneducated and the poor can cultivate the holy art of prayer.
O. Hallesby
When you enter your secret chamber take plenty of time before you begin to speak. Let quietude wield its influence upon you. Let the fact that you are alone assert itself. Give your soul time to get released from the many outward things. Give God time to play the prelude to prayer for the benefit of your distracted soul.
O. Hallesby
To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide the door unto Him and gives Him access to all your needs.
O. Hallesby
My helpless friend your helplessness is the most powerful plea which rises up to the tender father-heart of God. You think that everything is closed to you because you cannot pray. My friend your helplessness is the very essence of prayer.
O. Hallesby
Listen my friend! Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. He hears it from the very moment that you are seized with helplessness and He becomes actively engaged at once in hearing and answering the prayer of your helplessness.
O. Hallesby
Helplessness is unquestionably the first and the surest indication of a praying heart. ... Prayer and helplessness are inseparable. Only he who is helpless can truly pray.
O. Hallesby
The more helpless you are the better you are fitted to pray and the more answers to prayer you will experience.
O. Hallesby
When it becomes clear to us that prayer is a part of our daily program of work it will also become clear to us that we must arrange our daily program in such a way that there is time also for this work just as we set aside time for other necessary things such as eating and dressing.
O. Hallesby
As impossible as it is for us to take a breath in the morning large enough to last us until noon so impossible is it to pray in the morning in such a way as to last us until noon. Let your prayers ascend to Him constantly audibly or silently as circumstances throughout the day permit.
O. Hallesby
Begin to realize more and more that prayer is the most important thing you do. You can use your time to no better advantage than to pray whenever you have an opportunity to do so either alone or with others while at work while at rest or while walking down the street. Anywhere!
O. Hallesby
When we go to our meeting with God we should go like a patient to his doctor first to be thoroughly examined and afterwards to be treated for our ailment. Then something will happen when you pray.
O. Hallesby
Prayer can assume very different forms from quiet blessed contemplation of God in which eye meets eye in restful meditation to deep sighs or sudden exclamations of wonder joy gratitude or adoration.
O. Hallesby
To pray is nothing more involved than to open the door giving Jesus access to our needs and permitting Him to exercise His own power in dealing with them.
O. Hallesby
By prayer we couple the powers of heaven to our helplessness the powers which can capture strongholds and make the impossible possible.
O. Hallesby
Choice is the essence of what I believe it is to be human.
Liv Ullmann
The peace is won by accompanying God into the battle.
Eivind Josef Berggrav