Life is always frightful. We cannot help it and we are responsible all the same. One’s born and at once one is guilty. You must have had a remarkable sort of religious education if you did not know that.
Hermann Hesse
Life, Responsibility, Guilt, Existence, Education, Awareness
Hermann Hesse’s Quotes On Topics
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More Hermann Hesse Quotes
“You have no doubt guessed long since that the conquest of time and the escape from reality, or however else it may be that you choose to describe your longing, means simply the wish to be relieved of your so-called personality. That is the prison where you lie.” Hermann Hesse
Time, Reality, Prison, Existential Escape, Self-confinement, Personal Liberation
Hermann Hesse Time, Reality, Prison, Existential Escape, Self-confinement, Personal Liberation“It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is.” Hermann Hesse
Purpose, Recognize, Honor, Interpersonal Respect, Individual Uniqueness, Relational Wisdom
Hermann Hesse Purpose, Recognize, Honor, Interpersonal Respect, Individual Uniqueness, Relational Wisdom“Loneliness is the way by which destiny endeavors to lead man to himself.” Hermann Hesse
Loneliness, Destiny, Himself, Personal Growth, Existential Journey, Self-discovery
Hermann Hesse Loneliness, Destiny, Himself, Personal Growth, Existential Journey, Self-discovery“I needed lust, the desire for possessions, vanity, and needed the most shameful despair, in order to learn how to give up all resistance, in order to learn how to love the world, in order to stop comparing it to some world I wished, I imagined, some kind of perfection I had made up, but to leave it as it is and to love it and to enjoy being a part of it. These are some of the thoughts which have come into my mind.” Hermann Hesse
Acceptance, Desire, Transformation, Worldly Love, Spiritual Growth, Self Realization
Hermann Hesse Acceptance, Desire, Transformation, Worldly Love, Spiritual Growth, Self Realization“Faith and doubt go hand in hand, they are complementaries. One who never doubts will never truly believe.” Hermann Hesse
Faith, Doubt, Believe, Spiritual Growth, Intellectual Honesty, Philosophical Balance
Hermann Hesse Faith, Doubt, Believe, Spiritual Growth, Intellectual Honesty, Philosophical Balance“I realised that all this talk was of no value and at its best only led to clever phrases.” Hermann Hesse
Realization, Wisdom, Futility, Communication, Empty Words, Genuine Understanding
Hermann Hesse Realization, Wisdom, Futility, Communication, Empty Words, Genuine Understanding“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“Your soul is the whole world.” Hermann Hesse
Soul, Wholeness, Interconnectedness, Spirituality, Inner Universe, Cosmic Unity
Hermann Hesse Soul, Wholeness, Interconnectedness, Spirituality, Inner Universe, Cosmic Unity“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“Eternity is a mere moment, just long enough for a joke.” Hermann Hesse
Eternity, Moment, Joke, Temporal Perspective, Cosmic Humor, Philosophical Paradox
Hermann Hesse Eternity, Moment, Joke, Temporal Perspective, Cosmic Humor, Philosophical Paradox“People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest.” Hermann Hesse
Courage, Character, Perception, Individuality, Societal Critique, Strength
Hermann Hesse Courage, Character, Perception, Individuality, Societal Critique, Strength“If a person were to concentrate all his will power on a certain end, then he would achieve it. That’s all.” Hermann Hesse
Willpower, Focus, Determination, Achievement, Goal Setting, Success
Hermann Hesse Willpower, Focus, Determination, Achievement, Goal Setting, Success“Alas, Siddhartha, I see you suffering, but you're suffering a pain at which one would like to laugh, at which you'll soon laugh for yourself.” Hermann Hesse
Suffering, Enlightenment, Perspective, Growth, Spiritual Journey, Self Realization
Hermann Hesse Suffering, Enlightenment, Perspective, Growth, Spiritual Journey, Self Realization“When someone is searching then it might easily happen that the only thing his eyes still see is that what he searches for, that he is unable to find anything, to let anything enter his mind, because he always thinks of nothing but the object of his search. Searching means: having a goal. Finding means: being free, being open, having no goal.” Hermann Hesse
Searching, Finding, Freedom, Mindset, Openness, Self Reflection
Hermann Hesse Searching, Finding, Freedom, Mindset, Openness, Self Reflection“Forgive me, father, I am not certain what my own wishes are. I shall always take pleasure in study, how could it be otherwise? But I do not believe that my life will be limited to study. A man's wishes may not always determine his destiny, his mission; perhaps there are other predetermining factors.” Hermann Hesse
Wishes, Destiny, Study, Personal Uncertainty, Life’s Purpose, Fatalistic Perspective
Hermann Hesse Wishes, Destiny, Study, Personal Uncertainty, Life’s Purpose, Fatalistic Perspective“We create gods and struggle with them, and they bless us.” Hermann Hesse
Gods, Struggle, Bless, Spiritual Dynamic, Human Condition, Existential Relationship
Hermann Hesse Gods, Struggle, Bless, Spiritual Dynamic, Human Condition, Existential Relationship“I wanted to say a prayer and tried hard to remember one, but all I could think of was silly phrases such as ‘Dear Sir’ and ‘Under the Circumstances’. In my sadness and confusion I mumbled those.” Hermann Hesse
Prayer, Confusion, Expression, Sadness, Spirituality, Introspection
Hermann Hesse Prayer, Confusion, Expression, Sadness, Spirituality, Introspection“All over, people were seeking "freedom" and "happiness" somewhere behind themselves, out of the sheer fear of being reminded of their own responsibilities and being admonished to travel their own path.” Hermann Hesse
Freedom, Happiness, Responsibilities, Personal Authenticity, Existential Avoidance, Self-deception
Hermann Hesse Freedom, Happiness, Responsibilities, Personal Authenticity, Existential Avoidance, Self-deception