Dag Hammarskjöld

1905–1961 · lived 56 years

Dag Hammarskjöld was a Swedish diplomat and economist who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1953 to 1961. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential diplomats of the 20th century and played a key role in resolving several international crises during the Cold War.

n. 1905-07-29, Jönköping · m. 1961-09-18, Ndola

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Bio

Born in Jönköping, Sweden, Dag Hammarskjöld was the son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, a prominent Swedish jurist and politician. He studied law and economics, earning a doctorate in 1933. His political career began as a cabinet secretary, and in 1949, he became a minister without portfolio in the Swedish government. In 1953, he was elected Secretary-General of the UN, a position he held until his death in 1961. During his tenure, he was involved in complex negotiations, including the Suez Crisis and the Congo War. His dedication to peace and diplomacy earned him the posthumous Nobel Peace Prize in 1961. Hammarskjöld was known for his integrity, sharp intellect, and unwavering commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Poems

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Quotes

I don’t know Who—or what—put the question, I don’t know when it was put. I don’t even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer Yes to Someone—or Something—and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, my life, in self-surrender, had a goal.

To reach perfection, we must all pass, one by one, through the death of self-effacement.

Time goes by: reputation increases, ability declines.

Humility is just as much the opposite of self- abasement as it is of self-exaltation.

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