1,099 Quotes by Hermann Hesse

The whole of world history often seems to me nothing more than a picture book which portrays humanity's most powerful and a senseless desire - the desire to forget. Does not each generation, by means of suppression, concealment, and ridicule, efface what the previous generation considered most important?

That is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged — to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.

Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different immediately after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish.

I realize that some people will not believe that a child of little more than ten years is capable of having such feelings. My story is not intended for them. I am telling it to those who have a better knowledge of man. The adult who has learned to translate a part of his feelings into thoughts notices the absence of these thoughts in a child, and therefore comes to believe that the child lacks these experiences, too. Yet rarely in my life have I felt and suffered as deeply as at that time.

Ich war ein Suchender und bin es noch, aber ich suche nicht mehr auf den Sternen und in den Büchern, ich beginne die Lehren zu hören, die mein Blut in mir rauscht

Loneliness is the way by which destiny endeavors to lead man to himself.

For one scant day he had loved himself, felt himself to be unified and whole, not split into hostile parts; he had loved himself and the world and God in himself, and everywhere he went he had met nothing but love, approval, and joy.

Solitude is independence. It had been my wish and with the years I have attained it.

Home is neither here nor there. Home is within you, or home is nowhere at all.