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.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the struggle between self-discipline and indulgence in a person's life journey.
Hermann Hesse's quote encapsulates the tension between the ideals of abstinence and the realities of life's pleasures. It suggests that despite periods of self-discipline and fasting, one may find themselves drawn back into indulgence or darker phases of existence, represented metaphorically by the sign of Aquarius. This illustrates the cyclical nature of personal growth and the influence of external forces on one's choices.
In practice
During a discussion on personal growth, one might quote Hesse to illustrate the ongoing struggle between discipline and indulgence.
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.
That 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.
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.
People know, or dimly feel, that if thinking is not kept pure and keen, and if respect for the world of mind is no longer operative, ships and automobiles will soon cease to run right, the engineer's slide rule and the computations of banks and stock exchanges will forfeit validity and authority, and chaos will ensue.
There are a lot of very brilliant people who believe that the nation-state is fast becoming a relic of the past.
Common experience is the gold reserve which confers an exchange value on the currency which words are; without this reserve of shared experiences, all our pronouncements are checks drawn on insufficient funds.
He tells so many lies that he convinces himself after a while that he's telling the truth. He just doesn't recognize truth or falsehood.
There are no secrets better kept than the secrets everybody guesses.
Violence comes from the belief that other people cause our pain and therefore deserve punishment.
Compassion refers to the arising in the heart of the desire to relieve the suffering of all beings.
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