We are not going in circles, we are going upwards. The path is a spiral; we have already climbed many steps.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that while progress may sometimes feel repetitive, we are actually moving forward and growing in a positive direction.
Hermann Hesse's quote reflects on the nature of personal growth, implying that life's journey is not a linear one, but rather a spiral ascent. It acknowledges the struggle and complexity of life, emphasizing that each step taken, even if it feels like going in circles, contributes to our upward development. This perspective encourages us to recognize our progress and the lessons learned along the way, reinforcing the idea that improvement and change are ongoing processes.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming challenges.
I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha." He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.
That is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged β to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.
I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self.
You're quite right there," he said. "I have practiced abstinence myself for years, and had my time of fasting, too, but now I find myself once more beneath the sign of Aquarius, a dark and humid constellation.
I call that man awake who, with conscious knowledge and understanding, can perceive the deep unreasoning powers in his soul, his whole innermost strength, desire and weakness, and knows how to reckon with himself.
Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.
You have to seed internal disruptors. You need sources of internal disruption. They don't guarantee your survival, but you have got to try.
Now we're in the midst of not just advocating for change, not just calling for change - we're doing the grinding, sometimes frustrating work of delivering change - inch by inch, day by day.
Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.
If the amount of money going into the war economy were invested in landscape restoration, we would be in a far more positive position. It may get a little dire before we pull together, but I think when the prosperous nations, and in particular the U.S., realize they're wrecking their own kids' lives, there will be a mass change in value.
The English prison system is altogether mediaeval and outworn. In some of its details, the system has improved since they began to send the Suffragettes to Holloway. I may say that we, by our public denunciation of the system, have forced these slight improvements.
Conversion is a turning onto the right road. The next thing to do is to walk on it.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.