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Any attempt to replace a personal conscience by a collective conscience does violence to the individual and is the first step toward totalitarianism.

Conscience, Individuality, Totalitarianism, Personal Freedom, Responsibility, Societal Dynamics

Any attempt to replace a personal conscience by a collective

Any attempt to replace a personal conscience by a collective

Any attempt to replace a personal conscience by a collective

Hermann Hesse’s Quotes On Topics

More Hermann Hesse Quotes

“There is no reality except the one contained within us.”

Reality, Perception, Inner World, Truth, Self Awareness, Individual Experience

“Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?” That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.”

Time, River, Presence, Nature, Transcendence, Existence

“To die is to go into the Collective Unconscious, to lose oneself in order to be transformed into form, pure form.”

Die, Collective Unconscious, Form, Psychological Transformation, Spiritual Transition, Existential Metamorphosis

“Perhaps he was handsome, perhaps I liked him, perhaps I also found him repulsive, I could not be sure of that either.”

Attraction, Ambiguity, Human Nature, Uncertainty, Perception, Complexity

“I was out of my bed in one second, trembling with excitement, and I dashed to the door and into the adjoining room, where I could watch the streets below from the windows.”

Excitement, Streets, Windows, Youthful Enthusiasm, Observational Curiosity, World Exploration

“Everything that is thought and expressed in words is one-sided, only half the truth; it all lacks totality, completeness, unity.”

Expression, Language, Truth, Perception, Unity, Understanding

“But though the ways led away from the self, their end nevertheless always led back to the self.”

Self, Journey, Return, Introspection, Exploration, Personal Growth

“Notre frere a ete conduit par son epreuve au desespoir, et les desespoir est la resultat de toute tentative serieuse pour comprendre et justifier la vie humaine. le desespoir est le resultat de tout effort serieux pour mettre sa vie en harmonie avec la vertu, avec la justice, avec la raison, tout en repondant a ses exigences. les enfants vivent en deca de ce desespoir, les adultes au-dela.”

Desespoir, Vie, Vertu, Existential Despair, Moral Struggle, Human Condition

“The river has taught me to listen; you will learn from it, too. The river knows everything; one can learn everything from it. You have already learned from the river that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek the depths.”

River, Learning, Wisdom, Depth, Nature, Introspection

“Each of us is merely one human being, merely an experiment, a way station. But each of us should be on the way toward perfection, should be striving to reach the center, not the periphery.”

Human, Experiment, Perfection, Personal Growth, Spiritual Journey, Existential Purpose

“Those who are too lazy and comfortable to think for themselves and be their own judges obey the laws. Others sense their own laws within them.”

Lazy, Laws, Within, Social Conformity, Personal Autonomy, Moral Independence

“Every experience has its element of magic.”

Experience, Magic, Element, Life Philosophy, Personal Wonder, Existential Appreciation

“They both listened silently to the water, which to them was not just water, but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.”

Water, Life, Becoming, Natural Wisdom, Existential Insight, Spiritual Metaphor

“There are always a few such people who demand the utmost of life and yet cannot come to terms with its stupidity and crudeness.”

Life, Expectations, Disillusionment, Complexity, Human Nature, Philosophical Reflection

“I had to experience despair, I had to sink to the greatest mental depths, to thoughts of suicide, in order to experience grace, to hear Om again, to sleep deeply again and to awaken refreshed again. I had to become a fool again in order to find Atman in myself. I had to sin in order to live again. Whither will my path yet lead me? This path is stupid, it goes in spirals, perhaps in circles, but whichever way it goes, I will follow it. He was aware of a great happiness mounting within him.”

Despair, Grace, Atman, Personal Growth, Existential Struggle, Emotional Awakening

“Therefore, it seems to me that everything that exists is good – death as well as life, sin as well as holiness, wisdom as well as folly. Everything is necessary, everything needs only my agreement, my assent, my loving understanding; then all is well with me and nothing can harm me.”

Existence, Duality, Acceptance, Wisdom, Love, Understanding

“One day I would be a better hand at the game. One day I would learn how to laugh. Pablo was waiting for me, and Mozart too.”

Game, Laughter, Music, Friendship, Hope, Personal Growth

“I realize today that nothing in the world is more distasteful to a man than to take the path that leads to himself.”

Self, Distaste, Journey, Avoidance, Personal Growth, Introspection

“Youth ends when egotism does; maturity begins when one lives for others.”

Youth, Maturity, Egotism, Selflessness, Growth, Life Journey

“Those who cannot think or take responsibility for themselves need, and clamor for, a leader.”

Responsibility, Leadership, Critical Thinking, Autonomy, Empowerment, Societal Dynamics