...and gradually his face assumed the expressions which are so often found among rich people - the expressions of discontent, of sickliness, of displeasure, of idleness, of lovelessness. Slowly the soul sickness of the rich crept over him.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the spiritual emptiness and dissatisfaction that can accompany wealth.
Hermann Hesse's quote illustrates how the pursuit of wealth can lead to emotional and spiritual malaise. It highlights that wealth, often perceived as a source of happiness and fulfillment, can instead result in feelings of discontent and soullessness, suggesting that true happiness cannot be bought or acquired through material means but must come from within and from meaningful connections with others.
In practice
In a discussion about the impact of wealth on mental health, this quote could be used to illustrate the darker side of affluence.
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 — 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.
Do you call yourself Free? It is your ruling thought that I would hear, and not that you have escaped from a yoke.
No one told these American soldiers they might be shot down by bullets made by their own brothers here. No one told them that the ships on which they were going to cross might be torpedoed by submarines built with US patents.
Society is held together by our need; we bind it together with legend, myth, coercion, fearing that without it we will be hurled into that void, within which, like the earth before the Word was spoken, the foundations of society are hidden.
What most needs explanation is not why some people are criminals, but why most people are not.
We forget that God's primary goal is not changing our situations or relationships so that we can be happy, but changing us through our situations and relationships so that we will be holy.
Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.