Hermann Hesse

The truth is lived, not taught.

Some of us think holding on makes us strong but sometimes it is letting go.

It is not our purpose to become each other it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is.

What constitutes a real, live human being is more of a mystery than ever these days, and men each one of whom is a valuable, unique experiment on the part of nature are shot down wholesale.

There is, so I believe, in the essence of everything, something that we cannot call learning. There is, my friend, only a knowledge - that is everywhere.

Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.

One never reaches home, but wherever friendly paths intersect the whole world looks like home for a time.

Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity.

To be able to throw one's self away for the sake of a moment, to be able to sacrifice years for a woman's smile - that is happiness.

Happiness is a how not a what. A talent, not an object.

I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.

To study history means submitting to chaos and nevertheless retaining faith in order and meaning.

The call of death is a call of love. Death can be sweet if we answer it in the affirmative, if we accept it as one of the great eternal forms of life and transformation.

People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest.

As a body everyone is single, as a soul never.