Rationality and tenderness

‘I don’t dream of much,’ Salmén states first.

‘I don’t believe the world will get better, but it can get more tolerable if people are wise. If people looked at the world rationally and tenderly and acted based on that, everyone would have it easier here. There are some peeves we’ll never get rid of, though.’

Salmén does not believe in permanent happiness.

‘Freud said that the human being is doomed to uncertainty and deep contradictions. To be human means that you are unhappy, essentially. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t have moments of happiness.’

By Written by Heta Muurinen. Translated by Kaisla Kajava. Revised by Joe McVeigh.

Leif Salmén

Leif Henry Salmén
Born January 19, 1952, Helsinki

Studies in the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences (Philosophy major) 1971–6, University of Helsinki

Political reporter at FBC TV1’s news desk 1984–1989
Political reporter at TV-Nytt 1978–1984
Reporter at FBC’s Swedish language current affairs programme 1976–1978
Reporter at Suomen Tietotoimisto news agency 1973–1975

Awards
Eino Leino Prize 2013
Tollander Prize 2009
Längmanska Cultural Foundation Prize 2006
Kivipää Award 2001
State three-year artist’s grant 1998
State scientific publication award 1985
Finnish-Swedish publishing prize 1984
Society for Swedish Literature in Finland’s Award 1979, 1984, 1987, 1991

Photo: Heini Lehväslaiho
Written by Heta Muurinen (Tero Juutilainen, ed.)
Translated by Joe McVeigh