I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha." He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.
Each man's life represents a road toward himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that an individual's life journey is ultimately a quest for self-discovery and understanding.
Hermann Hesse's quote emphasizes the idea that every person's life is a unique journey towards self-realization. It indicates that the experiences, choices, and challenges one encounters serve as paths leading to deeper self-understanding and personal truth. This road is not always straightforward; it involves exploration and introspection, guiding individuals toward their authentic selves as they navigate through life's complexities.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal development, this quote could underscore the importance of understanding oneself.
More from Hermann Hesse
All quotes βThat is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged β to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.
I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self.
You're quite right there," he said. "I have practiced abstinence myself for years, and had my time of fasting, too, but now I find myself once more beneath the sign of Aquarius, a dark and humid constellation.
I call that man awake who, with conscious knowledge and understanding, can perceive the deep unreasoning powers in his soul, his whole innermost strength, desire and weakness, and knows how to reckon with himself.
Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.
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I never had anyone I could call βMasterβ. No Christ died for me. No Buddha showed me the right path. In the depths of my dreams no Apollo or Athena appeared to me to enlighten my soul
There's a very simple reason for focusing on the nuclear issue. Many, many issues are of supreme importance in one way or another, but if we blow ourselves up with nuclear weapons, no other issue is really going to matter. Quite possibly there would be no other human beings left to be concerned about anything else.
A southern moon is a sodden moon, and sultry. When it swamps the fields and the rustling sandy roads and the sticky honeysuckle hedges in its sweet stagnation, your fight to hold on to reality is like a protestation against a first waft of ether.
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I am oppressed with a dread of living forever. That is the only disadvantage of vegetarianism.
When I was a young man, near the beginning of my life, I looked around with true mindfulness and saw that all things are subject to decay.