Let the little way to death be as it might, the kernel of this life of mine was noble. It had purpose and character and turned not on trifles, but on the stars.
Hermann Hesse
Death, Purpose, Nobility, Character, Existence, Meaning
Hermann Hesse’s Quotes On Topics
New Life | Spiritual Rebirth | Feminine Archetype | Intellectual Prestige | Intellectual Perspective | Interpersonal Respect | Chain | Questionable | Universal Acceptance | Emotional Insight | Reader-author Relationship | Introspective Moment | Value | Existential Uniqueness | Lobo | Philosophical Practice | Existential Despair | Existential Unity | Permission | Voices | More
More Hermann Hesse Quotes
“At one time I had given much thought to why men were so very rarely capable of living for an ideal. Now I saw that many, no, all men were capable of dying for one.” Hermann Hesse
Ideals, Sacrifice, Humanity, Introspection, Values, Life Purpose
Hermann Hesse Ideals, Sacrifice, Humanity, Introspection, Values, Life Purpose“Any attempt to replace a personal conscience by a collective conscience does violence to the individual and is the first step toward totalitarianism.” Hermann Hesse
Conscience, Individuality, Totalitarianism, Personal Freedom, Responsibility, Societal Dynamics
Hermann Hesse Conscience, Individuality, Totalitarianism, Personal Freedom, Responsibility, Societal Dynamics“Once you are able to make your request in such a way that you will be quite certain of its fulfillment, then the fulfillment will come.” Hermann Hesse
Request, Fulfillment, Certainty, Manifestation, Personal Empowerment, Motivational Insight
Hermann Hesse Request, Fulfillment, Certainty, Manifestation, Personal Empowerment, Motivational Insight“You knew all along that your sanctioned world was only half the world, and you tried to suppress the other half the same way the priests and teachers do. You won't succeed. No one succeeds in this once he has begun to think.” Hermann Hesse
World, Suppress, Think, Intellectual Awakening, Societal Critique, Personal Growth
Hermann Hesse World, Suppress, Think, Intellectual Awakening, Societal Critique, Personal Growth“Obeying is like eating and drinking. There’s nothing like it if you’ve been without it for too long.” Hermann Hesse
Obedience, Necessity, Instinct, Human Nature, Survival Needs, Natural Behavior
Hermann Hesse Obedience, Necessity, Instinct, Human Nature, Survival Needs, Natural Behavior“The tree does not die, it waits.” Hermann Hesse
Patience, Resilience, Nature, Continuity, Life Cycle, Growth
Hermann Hesse Patience, Resilience, Nature, Continuity, Life Cycle, Growth“The Steppenwolf, however, first threw up his sharp, closely cropped head and sniffed around nervously before he either made any answer or announced his name. “Oh, it smells good here,” he said, and at that he smiled and my aunt smiled too.” Hermann Hesse
Curiosity, Character, Interaction, Perception, Lightness, Joy
Hermann Hesse Curiosity, Character, Interaction, Perception, Lightness, Joy“If a man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do.” Hermann Hesse
Wisdom, Adaptation, Survival, Necessity, Practical Philosophy, Human Resilience
Hermann Hesse Wisdom, Adaptation, Survival, Necessity, Practical Philosophy, Human Resilience“I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me.” Hermann Hesse
Seeker, Intuition, Wisdom, Inner Voice, Self Discovery, Spiritual Journey
Hermann Hesse Seeker, Intuition, Wisdom, Inner Voice, Self Discovery, Spiritual Journey“If I were to reduce all my feelings and their painful conflicts to a single name, I can think of no other word but: dread. It was dread, dread and uncertainty, that I felt in all those hours of shattered childhood felicity: dread of punishment, dread of my own conscience, dread of stirrings in my soul which I considered forbidden and criminal.” Hermann Hesse
Dread, Childhood, Soul, Emotional Turmoil, Inner Conflict, Psychological Burden
Hermann Hesse Dread, Childhood, Soul, Emotional Turmoil, Inner Conflict, Psychological Burden“In Germany I have been acknowledged again since the fall of Hitler, but my works, partly suppressed by the Nazis and partly destroyed by the war; have not yet been republished there.” Hermann Hesse
Acknowledgment, History, Resilience, Artistic Expression, Censorship, Legacy
Hermann Hesse Acknowledgment, History, Resilience, Artistic Expression, Censorship, Legacy“Age is a state of mind. Youth and age exist only among the ordinary people. All the more talented and exceptional of us; are sometimes old, just as we are sometimes happy, and sometimes sad.” Hermann Hesse
Age, Perception, Youth, Mindset, Individuality, Experience
Hermann Hesse Age, Perception, Youth, Mindset, Individuality, Experience“Every person’s life is a journey toward himself, the attempt at a journey, the intimation of a path. No person has ever been completely himself, but each one strives to become so, some gropingly, others more lucidly, according to his abilities. Each one carries with him to the end traces of his birth, the slime and eggshells of a primordial world.” Hermann Hesse
Journey, Self Discovery, Individuality, Growth, Life Path, Human Experience
Hermann Hesse Journey, Self Discovery, Individuality, Growth, Life Path, Human Experience“Words can not express the joy of new life.” Hermann Hesse
Joy, Happiness, Elation, Parenthood, New Life, Pure Bliss
Hermann Hesse Joy, Happiness, Elation, Parenthood, New Life, Pure Bliss“All life is a breath exhaled by God. All dying is a breath inhaled by God.” Hermann Hesse
Life, Dying, God, Spiritual Perspective, Existential Cycle, Divine Breath
Hermann Hesse Life, Dying, God, Spiritual Perspective, Existential Cycle, Divine Breath“Many people say 'they love nature,' by which they mean they don't dislike the charms nature displays before them. They go on outings, delight in the beauty of the earth as they trample meadows and tear off flowers and sprigs, only to discard them or let them wilt at home. That is how they love nature.” Hermann Hesse
Nature, Love, Beauty, Environmental Critique, Human Hypocrisy, Superficial Appreciation
Hermann Hesse Nature, Love, Beauty, Environmental Critique, Human Hypocrisy, Superficial Appreciation“I cannot tell my story without reaching a long way back.” Hermann Hesse
Story, Long, Back, Personal History, Narrative Reflection, Life Experience
Hermann Hesse Story, Long, Back, Personal History, Narrative Reflection, Life Experience“Only when I found myself sitting in front of you did I realize that my wish was only half fulfilled and that my sole aim was to sit next to you.” Hermann Hesse
Wish, Sitting, Aim, Relational Desire, Personal Realization, Emotional Connection
Hermann Hesse Wish, Sitting, Aim, Relational Desire, Personal Realization, Emotional Connection