Inspiration Quote by Hermann Hesse — Inspiring Words on Life, Love & Wisdom

“We fear death, we shudder at life's instability, we grieve to see the flowers wilt again and again, and the leaves fall, and in our hearts we know that we, too, are transitory and will soon disappear. When artists create pictures and thinkers search for laws and formulate thoughts, it is in order to salvage something from the great dance of death, to make something last longer than we do.”

“In eternity there is no time, only an instant long enough for a joke.”

“A thousand times I was ready to regret and take back my rash statement - yet it had been the truth.”

“Oh, if only it were possible to find understanding,” Joseph exclaimed. “If only there were a dogma to believe in. Everything is contradictory, everything tangential; there are no certainties anywhere. Everything can be interpreted one way and then again interpreted in the opposite sense. The whole of world history can be explained as development and progress and can also be seen as nothing but decadence and meaninglessness. Isn’t there any truth? Is there no real and valid doctrine?”

“Let me say no more. Words do no justice to the hidden meaning. Everything immediately becomes slightly different when it is expressed in words, a little bit distorted, a little foolish...It is perfectly fine with me that what for one man is precious wisdom for another sounds like foolery.”

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”

“It is not so important to know everything as to appreciate what we learn.”

“When deeds and words are in accord, the whole world is transformed.”

“Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.”

“A jug fills drop by drop.”