Die wêreld vandag
I saw that the meaning of life was to make a living,
its goal to become a councilor,
that the rich delight of love was to acquire a well-to-do girl,
that the blessedness of friendship was to help each other in financial difficulties,
that wisdom was whatever the majority assumed it to be,
that enthusiasm was to give a speech,
that courage was to risk being fined ten dollars,
that cordiality was to say “May it do you good” after a meal,
that piety was to go to communion once a year.
This I saw,
and I laughed.
–Søren Kierkegaard