Fear and Trembling, preface

In Kierkegaard's preface (writing under the name 'Johannes de silentio'), he expresses the absolute need for faith in God. Picking up on Descartes' Discourses, he expresses that the only sure knowledge we have is found in God alone. This is often overlooked when we talk about Descartes. An important quote from Descartes is "For I found myself embarrassed with so many doubts and erroes taht it seemed to me that the effort to instruct myself had no effect other than increasing discovery of my own ignorance."

Everyone requires faith to know anything at all. And, a misplaced faith is the most tragic of all. God has demonstrated the knowledge of Him in unmistakeable ways.