Q0118
“Marry, and you will regret it; do not marry, and you will…” — Søren Kierkegaard (Either/Or)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Either/Or. Theme: choice.
English
Marry, and you will regret it; do not marry, and you will also regret it.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Either/Or and files it under Existentialism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) was a Danish religious author and critic of Christendom who wrote under pseudonyms exploring aesthetic, ethical, and religious existence. Inheriting a melancholy family fortune, he attacked Hegelian system and lukewarm official faith in Copenhagen.
How to read this passage
Free will, decision theory, and existential choice all ask how choosing is possible and what makes a choice one’s own. This passage enters that discussion through choice, existence.
Concepts in this quote
- Choice
- Choice is the hinge of agency: selecting among options under reasons, constraints, and uncertainty.
- Existence
- Existence appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat existence as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Søren Kierkegaard. (n.d.). Marry, and you will regret it; do not marry, and you will also regret it. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0118
MLA: Søren Kierkegaard. “Marry, and you will regret it; do not….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0118.
Chicago: Søren Kierkegaard. “Marry, and you will regret it; do not….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0118.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Marry, and you will regret it; do not…”?
The passage is attributed to Søren Kierkegaard, Either/Or. The archive attributes this English wording to Either/Or and files it under Existentialism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Søren Kierkegaard mean by choice?
Free will, decision theory, and existential choice all ask how choosing is possible and what makes a choice one’s own. This passage enters that discussion through choice, existence.