At one time I had given much thought to why men were so very rarely capable of living for an ideal. Now I saw that many, no, all men were capable of dying for one.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the contrast between living for ideals and the willingness to die for them.
Hermann Hesse suggests that, while most people struggle to commit to living their lives for lofty ideals, they are often willing to sacrifice their lives for those ideals when challenged. This highlights the complexity of human nature, revealing that the pressure of circumstances can inspire profound acts of courage, even if the pursuit of ideals in daily life is more challenging.
In practice
In a graduation speech to inspire students to pursue their passions despite 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 — 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.
One of the problems of modern society, or the post-Internet age, is that there are so many things bombarding us that we could care about. I think it's more important than ever to really get clear and focus on what's worth caring about and what's just noise or distraction.
It is in justice that the ordering of society is centered.
Journalism is popular, but it is popular mainly as fiction. Life is one world, and life seen in the newspapers is another.
The deeper the experience of an absence of meaning - in other words, of absurdity - the more energetically meaning is sought.
I can make the earth stop in its tracks. I made the blue cars go away. I can make myself invisible or small. I can become gigantic & reach the farthest things. I can change the course of nature. I can place myself anywhere in space or time. I can summon the dead. I can perceive events on other worlds, in my deepest inner mind, & in the minds of others. I can I am
All vital truth contains the memory of all that for which it is not true.
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