I can say with this author
When I take a long look at my life, as though from outside, it does not appear particularly happy. Yet I am even less justified in calling it unhappy, despite all its mistakes. After all, it is foolish to keep probing for happiness or unhappiness, for it seems to me it would be hard to exchange the unhappiest days of my life for all the happy ones. If what matters in a person’s existence is to accept the inevitable consciously, to taste the good and bad to the full and to make for oneself a more individual, unaccidental and inward destiny alongside one’s external fate, then my life has been neither empty nor worthless. Even if, as it is decreed by the gods, fate has inexorably trod over my external existence as it does with everyone, my inner life has been of my own making . I deserve its sweetness and bitterness and accept full responsibility for it.
Hermann Hesse
I think this is very true for those who have been paying attention.
Many I fear lack the capacity to harmonize the inner with the outer. Some seek only to conquer one or the other and fail to see both.
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life is complex and for most people, their minds are not so complex to deal with it
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Nice one.
Maybe it is the reason we learn to cry before we learn to laugh
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Good quote. I like the one arch left, too. Here’s one I’ll contribute: “Dammit! I stubbed my friggin’ toe and it’s my fault. I shoulda been wearin’ my shoes when I was moving my coach.” Hamlet, Act 2, scene 8.
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I could have sworn that quote was from Macbeth…
Oh well, my memory is not what it used to be.
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A lot of people think that, but since I have an M.A. in English Lit, I know where the quote’s from and they don’t. Here’s a very real quote from Macbeth: “Oh, geez, my finger is stuck in this hole. Perhaps I shouldn’t have stuck my finger into an unknown hole. Oh well, I’ll cut my finger off so I can be free of this hole.” Macbeth, Act 3, scene 4.
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I have a B.S. in BS —
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I have a PhD in it.
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Blatant one-upmanship! J’accuse!
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Pedere te! 🙂
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Pedophile WHAT???!
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You must think I’m a Catholic priest!
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Katlick? Naw. I just be fuckin’ with you.
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Did you see my Edward II post? Somehow, that sounds more like Marlowe.
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I’ll check it out.
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Good quote from you my friend, very good quote
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An excellent quote from probably my favourite author.
The quote itself would appear to be from an old person looking back with many years experience that add some kind of perspective. The fact that it is from one of Hesse’s early novels written as a young man only adds to its majesty and the majesty of his amazing insightful poetic talent.
When I was 19 my friend who was going away to Italy gave me a box of books to keep. Having never read any book ever before I randomly picked a book from the box and started to read it. The book was Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse and it literally changed my whole world. One of the greatest gifts I ever received.
Thanks for sharing this quote. It makes great sense indeed.
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thanks mark for reading and comment.
I think it does make a lot of sense
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Very nice quote. I read “Siddartha” by Hesse when I was 13. For some mysterious reason it was part of a set of books issued by a student book company called “Scholastic Books” our English teacher had that we could choose from to read for a book report. It was in with typical young adult books from the late 70s. I think I was the only one to select it. No wonder I am a little odd now 🙂
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Maybe you have always been odd 😀
I think I will read it someday soon
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Most likely. I’m definitely the plaid sheep of the family.
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You look rather spotted to me —
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that’s true. I may have to say I’m the spotted sheep of the family (the Panthera Uncia in sheeps clothing 🙂 )
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I just thought it was measles —
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It’s the pox!
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This, from today’s Knowledge Guild:
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Without doubt, one may not learn
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I doubt that —
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I guessed you would
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