Vaclav Havel Quotes And Sayings

Václav Havel was a Czech writer, philosopher, political dissident, and statesman. From 1989 to 1992, he served as the last president of Czechoslovakia. He then served as the first president of the Czech Republic after the Czech–Slovak split Within Czech literature, he is known for his plays, essays, and memoirs. Havel’s political philosophy was one of anti-consumerism, humanitarianism, environmentalism, civil activism, and direct democracy. He is considered by some to be one of the most important intellectuals of the 20th century. International airport in Prague was renamed to Václav Havel Airport Prague in 2012.  

Hope Is Not The Conviction That Something Will Turn Out Well But The Certainty That Something Makes Sense, Regardless Of How It Turns Out.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (11) - Hope Is Not The Conviction That Someth... - QuotesHope Is Not The Conviction That Something Will Turn Out Well But The Certainty That Something Makes Sense, Regardless Of How It Turns Out.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (11) - Hope Is Not The Conviction That Someth... - Quotes

The Salvation Of This Human World Lies Nowhere Else Than In The Human Heart, In The Human Power To Reflect, In Human Meekness And Human Responsibility.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (1) - The Salvation Of This Human World Lies ... - QuotesThe Salvation Of This Human World Lies Nowhere Else Than In The Human Heart, In The Human Power To Reflect, In Human Meekness And Human Responsibility.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (1) - The Salvation Of This Human World Lies ... - Quotes

There Are Times When We Must Sink To The Bottom Of Our Misery To Understand Truth, Just As We Must Descend To The Bottom Of A Well To See The Stars In Broad Daylight.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (12) - There Are Times When We Must Sink To T... - QuotesThere Are Times When We Must Sink To The Bottom Of Our Misery To Understand Truth, Just As We Must Descend To The Bottom Of A Well To See The Stars In Broad Daylight.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (12) - There Are Times When We Must Sink To T... - Quotes

Sometimes I Wonder If Suicides Aren't In Fact Sad Guardians Of The Meaning Of Life.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (10) - Sometimes I Wonder If Suicides Aren't ... - QuotesSometimes I Wonder If Suicides Aren't In Fact Sad Guardians Of The Meaning Of Life.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (10) - Sometimes I Wonder If Suicides Aren't ... - Quotes

Hope Is A State Of Mind, Not Of The World. Hope, In This Deep And Powerful Sense, Is Not The Same As Joy That Things Are Going Well, Or Willingness To Invest In Enterprises That Are Obviously Heading For Success, But Rather An Ability To Work For Something Because It Is Good.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (13) - Hope Is A State Of Mind, Not Of The Wo... - QuotesHope Is A State Of Mind, Not Of The World. Hope, In This Deep And Powerful Sense, Is Not The Same As Joy That Things Are Going Well, Or Willingness To Invest In Enterprises That Are Obviously Heading For Success, But Rather An Ability To Work For Something Because It Is Good.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (13) - Hope Is A State Of Mind, Not Of The Wo... - Quotes

If We Are To Change Our World View, Images Have To Change. The Artist Now Has A Very Important Job To Do. He's Not A Little Peripheral Figure Entertaining Rich People, He's Really Needed.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (14) - If We Are To Change Our World View, Im... - QuotesIf We Are To Change Our World View, Images Have To Change. The Artist Now Has A Very Important Job To Do. He's Not A Little Peripheral Figure Entertaining Rich People, He's Really Needed.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (14) - If We Are To Change Our World View, Im... - Quotes

Just As The Constant Increase Of Entropy Is The Basic Law Of The Universe, So It Is The Basic Law Of Life To Be Ever More Highly Structured And To Struggle Against Entropy.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (16) - Just As The Constant Increase Of Entro... - QuotesJust As The Constant Increase Of Entropy Is The Basic Law Of The Universe, So It Is The Basic Law Of Life To Be Ever More Highly Structured And To Struggle Against Entropy.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (16) - Just As The Constant Increase Of Entro... - Quotes

Hope Is Definitely Not The Same Thing As Optimism. It Is Not The Conviction That Something Will Turn Out Well, But The Certainty That Something Makes Sense, Regardless Of How It Turns Out.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (17) - Hope Is Definitely Not The Same Thing ... - QuotesHope Is Definitely Not The Same Thing As Optimism. It Is Not The Conviction That Something Will Turn Out Well, But The Certainty That Something Makes Sense, Regardless Of How It Turns Out.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (17) - Hope Is Definitely Not The Same Thing ... - Quotes

There's Always Something Suspect About An Intellectual On The Winning Side.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (18) - There's Always Something Suspect About... - QuotesThere's Always Something Suspect About An Intellectual On The Winning Side.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (18) - There's Always Something Suspect About... - Quotes

Isn't It The Moment Of Most Profound Doubt That Gives Birth To New Certainties? Perhaps Hopelessness Is The Very Soil That Nourishes Human Hope; Perhaps One Could Never Find Sense In Life Without First Experiencing Its Absurdity.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (15) - Isn't It The Moment Of Most Profound D... - QuotesIsn't It The Moment Of Most Profound Doubt That Gives Birth To New Certainties? Perhaps Hopelessness Is The Very Soil That Nourishes Human Hope; Perhaps One Could Never Find Sense In Life Without First Experiencing Its Absurdity.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (15) - Isn't It The Moment Of Most Profound D... - Quotes

The Attempt To Devote Oneself To Literature Alone Is A Most Deceptive Thing, And Often, Paradoxically, It Is Literature That Suffers For It.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (19) - The Attempt To Devote Oneself To Liter... - QuotesThe Attempt To Devote Oneself To Literature Alone Is A Most Deceptive Thing, And Often, Paradoxically, It Is Literature That Suffers For It.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (19) - The Attempt To Devote Oneself To Liter... - Quotes

Hope Is A Feeling That Life And Work Have Meaning. You Either Have It Or You Don't, Regardless Of The State Of The World That Surrounds You.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (20) - Hope Is A Feeling That Life And Work H... - QuotesHope Is A Feeling That Life And Work Have Meaning. You Either Have It Or You Don't, Regardless Of The State Of The World That Surrounds You.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (20) - Hope Is A Feeling That Life And Work H... - Quotes

When A Truth Is Not Given Complete Freedom, Freedom Is Not Complete.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (2) - When A Truth Is Not Given Complete Free... - QuotesWhen A Truth Is Not Given Complete Freedom, Freedom Is Not Complete.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (2) - When A Truth Is Not Given Complete Free... - Quotes

Lying Can Never Save Us From Another Lie.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (22) - Lying Can Never Save Us From Another L... - QuotesLying Can Never Save Us From Another Lie.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (22) - Lying Can Never Save Us From Another L... - Quotes

Drama Assumes An Order. If Only So That It Might Have - By Disrupting That Order - A Way Of Surprising.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (21) - Drama Assumes An Order. If Only So Tha... - QuotesDrama Assumes An Order. If Only So That It Might Have - By Disrupting That Order - A Way Of Surprising.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (21) - Drama Assumes An Order. If Only So Tha... - Quotes

What's Certain Is That A Totalitarian Enclave Like Cuba's Can't Continue To Exist, So Change Will Definitely Come There, Eventually.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (23) - What's Certain Is That A Totalitarian ... - QuotesWhat's Certain Is That A Totalitarian Enclave Like Cuba's Can't Continue To Exist, So Change Will Definitely Come There, Eventually.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (23) - What's Certain Is That A Totalitarian ... - Quotes

Even A Purely Moral Act That Has No Hope Of Any Immediate And Visible Political Effect Can Gradually And Indirectly, Over Time, Gain In Political Significance.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (25) - Even A Purely Moral Act That Has No Ho... - QuotesEven A Purely Moral Act That Has No Hope Of Any Immediate And Visible Political Effect Can Gradually And Indirectly, Over Time, Gain In Political Significance.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (25) - Even A Purely Moral Act That Has No Ho... - Quotes

As Soon As Man Began Considering Himself The Source Of The Highest Meaning In The World And The Measure Of Everything, The World Began To Lose Its Human Dimension, And Man Began To Lose Control Of It.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (24) - As Soon As Man Began Considering Himse... - QuotesAs Soon As Man Began Considering Himself The Source Of The Highest Meaning In The World And The Measure Of Everything, The World Began To Lose Its Human Dimension, And Man Began To Lose Control Of It.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (24) - As Soon As Man Began Considering Himse... - Quotes

The Deeper The Experience Of An Absence Of Meaning - In Other Words, Of Absurdity - The More Energetically Meaning Is Sought.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (26) - The Deeper The Experience Of An Absenc... - QuotesThe Deeper The Experience Of An Absence Of Meaning - In Other Words, Of Absurdity - The More Energetically Meaning Is Sought.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (26) - The Deeper The Experience Of An Absenc... - Quotes

Work For Something Because It Is Good, Not Just Because It Stands A Chance To Succeed.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (27) - Work For Something Because It Is Good,... - QuotesWork For Something Because It Is Good, Not Just Because It Stands A Chance To Succeed.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (27) - Work For Something Because It Is Good,... - Quotes

But If I Were To Say Who Influenced Me Most, Then I'd Say Franz Kafka. And His Works Were Always Anchored In The Central European Region.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (28) - But If I Were To Say Who Influenced Me... - QuotesBut If I Were To Say Who Influenced Me Most, Then I'd Say Franz Kafka. And His Works Were Always Anchored In The Central European Region.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (28) - But If I Were To Say Who Influenced Me... - Quotes

In My Opinion, Theater Shouldn't Give Advice To Citizens.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (29) - In My Opinion, Theater Shouldn't Give ... - QuotesIn My Opinion, Theater Shouldn't Give Advice To Citizens.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (29) - In My Opinion, Theater Shouldn't Give ... - Quotes

I Think Theatre Should Always Be Somewhat Suspect.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (31) - I Think Theatre Should Always Be Somew... - QuotesI Think Theatre Should Always Be Somewhat Suspect.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (31) - I Think Theatre Should Always Be Somew... - Quotes

Anyone Who Takes Himself Too Seriously Always Runs The Risk Of Looking Ridiculous; Anyone Who Can Consistently Laugh At Himself Does Not.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (3) - Anyone Who Takes Himself Too Seriously ... - QuotesAnyone Who Takes Himself Too Seriously Always Runs The Risk Of Looking Ridiculous; Anyone Who Can Consistently Laugh At Himself Does Not.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (3) - Anyone Who Takes Himself Too Seriously ... - Quotes

Theater Is There To Search For Questions. It Doesn't Give You Instructions.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (30) - Theater Is There To Search For Questio... - QuotesTheater Is There To Search For Questions. It Doesn't Give You Instructions.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (30) - Theater Is There To Search For Questio... - Quotes

I Think It's Important For One To Take A Certain Distance From Oneself.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (32) - I Think It's Important For One To Take... - QuotesI Think It's Important For One To Take A Certain Distance From Oneself.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (32) - I Think It's Important For One To Take... - Quotes

It Lies In Human Nature That Where You Experience Your First Laughs, You Also Remember The Age Kindly.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (33) - It Lies In Human Nature That Where You... - QuotesIt Lies In Human Nature That Where You Experience Your First Laughs, You Also Remember The Age Kindly.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (33) - It Lies In Human Nature That Where You... - Quotes

Modern Man Must Descend The Spiral Of His Own Absurdity To The Lowest Point; Only Then Can He Look Beyond It. It Is Obviously Impossible To Get Around It, Jump Over It, Or Simply Avoid It.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (5) - Modern Man Must Descend The Spiral Of H... - QuotesModern Man Must Descend The Spiral Of His Own Absurdity To The Lowest Point; Only Then Can He Look Beyond It. It Is Obviously Impossible To Get Around It, Jump Over It, Or Simply Avoid It.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (5) - Modern Man Must Descend The Spiral Of H... - Quotes

The Tragedy Of Modern Man Is Not That He Knows Less And Less About The Meaning Of His Own Life, But That It Bothers Him Less And Less.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (4) - The Tragedy Of Modern Man Is Not That H... - QuotesThe Tragedy Of Modern Man Is Not That He Knows Less And Less About The Meaning Of His Own Life, But That It Bothers Him Less And Less.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (4) - The Tragedy Of Modern Man Is Not That H... - Quotes

Without Free, Self-respecting, And Autonomous Citizens There Can Be No Free And Independent Nations. Without Internal Peace, That Is, Peace Among Citizens And Between The Citizens And The State, There Can Be No Guarantee Of External Peace.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (6) - Without Free, Self-respecting, And Auto... - QuotesWithout Free, Self-respecting, And Autonomous Citizens There Can Be No Free And Independent Nations. Without Internal Peace, That Is, Peace Among Citizens And Between The Citizens And The State, There Can Be No Guarantee Of External Peace.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (6) - Without Free, Self-respecting, And Auto... - Quotes

None Of Us Know All The Potentialities That Slumber In The Spirit Of The Population, Or All The Ways In Which That Population Can Surprise Us When There Is The Right Interplay Of Events.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (7) - None Of Us Know All The Potentialities ... - QuotesNone Of Us Know All The Potentialities That Slumber In The Spirit Of The Population, Or All The Ways In Which That Population Can Surprise Us When There Is The Right Interplay Of Events.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (7) - None Of Us Know All The Potentialities ... - Quotes

I Really Do Inhabit A System In Which Words Are Capable Of Shaking The Entire Structure Of Government, Where Words Can Prove Mightier Than Ten Military Divisions.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (8) - I Really Do Inhabit A System In Which W... - QuotesI Really Do Inhabit A System In Which Words Are Capable Of Shaking The Entire Structure Of Government, Where Words Can Prove Mightier Than Ten Military Divisions.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (8) - I Really Do Inhabit A System In Which W... - Quotes

The Exercise Of Power Is Determined By Thousands Of Interactions Between The World Of The Powerful And That Of The Powerless, All The More So Because These Worlds Are Never Divided By A Sharp Line: Everyone Has A Small Part Of Himself In Both.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (9) - The Exercise Of Power Is Determined By ... - QuotesThe Exercise Of Power Is Determined By Thousands Of Interactions Between The World Of The Powerful And That Of The Powerless, All The More So Because These Worlds Are Never Divided By A Sharp Line: Everyone Has A Small Part Of Himself In Both.

Vaclav Havel Quotes (9) - The Exercise Of Power Is Determined By ... - Quotes