Etty Hillesum

To live fully, outwardly and inwardly, not to ignore the external reality for the sake of the inner life, or the reverse, that's quite a task

Thinking gets you nowhere. It may be a fine and noble aid in academic studies, but you can't think your way out of emotional difficulties. That takes something altogether different. You have to make yourself passive then, and just listen. Re-establish contact with a slice of eternity.

The more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.

We have to fight them daily, lake fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies.

Each of us must turn inward and destroy in himself all that he thinks he ought to destroy in others.

I think what weakens people most is fear of wasting their strength.

I really see no other solution than to turn inwards and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the world until we first change ourselves. And that seems to me the only lesson to be learned.

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.

As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more good things of life become unexpected gifts that we accept with gratitude.

One must also accept that one has 'uncreative' moments. The more honestly one can accept that, the quicker these moments will pass.

Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.