--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Slowly but surely I have been soaking…" description: "\"Slowly but surely I have been soaking Rilke up these last few months: the man, his work and his life. And that is probably the only right way with lite..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/etty-hillesum-9002_books_slowly-but-surely-i-have-been-soaking-ri_1794910.jpg" --- # Slowly but surely I have been soaking Rilke up these last… ![“Slowly but surely I have been soaking Rilke up these last few months: the man, his work and his life. And that is probably the only right way with literature, with study, with people or with anything else: to let it all soak in, to let it all mature slowly inside you until it has become a part of…” quote by Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/etty-hillesum-9002_books_slowly-but-surely-i-have-been-soaking-ri_1794910.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/etty-hillesum-9002_books_slowly-but-surely-i-have-been-soaking-ri_1794910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/etty-hillesum-9002_books_slowly-but-surely-i-have-been-soaking-ri_1794910.jpg) > “Slowly but surely I have been soaking Rilke up these last few months: the man, his work and his life. And that is probably the only right way with literature, with study, with people or with anything else: to let it all soak in, to let it all mature slowly inside you until it has become a part of yourself. That, too, is a growing process. Everything is a growing process. And in between, emotions and sensations that strike you like lightning. But still the most important thing is the organic process of growing.” [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immersing oneself slowly in literature and life allows deep personal growth and integration. **In simple terms:** Slow immersion in literature leads to personal growth. Key Takeaway Let experiences mature within you. Themes learning growth patience Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - studying literature - personal reflection - emotional processing Key Concepts Deep reading organic development self‑integration Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance patience with progress? - What practices help you internalize learning? A Different Perspective Patience may delay tangible results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) ## Related quotes > [Precocious talents mature slowly if at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/precocious-talents-mature-slowly-if-at-all/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“Great talents mature slowly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/great-talents-mature-slowly/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/the-bonds-of-matrimony-are-like-any-other-bonds-they-mature-slowly/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [The process of growing and learning always involves risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/the-process-of-growing-and-learning-always-involves-risk/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [The process of growing up was nothing more than figuring out what doors hadn't yet been slammed in your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-process-of-growing-up-was-nothing-more-than-figuring-out-what/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Each of us can make a great difference in the lives of other people, particularly as we move along the Success Process ourselves growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stedman-graham/each-of-us-can-make-a-great-difference-in-the-lives-of-other-people/) [Stedman Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stedman-graham/) > [“Life can be awkward at times. It is part of the growing process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-fargiano/life-can-be-awkward-at-times-it-is-part-of-the-growing-process/) [Jim Fargiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-fargiano/) > [I just started to understand my craft, what I wanted to do as an artist. It's just a growing process. Figuring out exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-de/i-just-started-to-understand-my-craft-what-i-wanted-to-do-as-an/) [Young De](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-de/) > [If growing up is the process of creating ideas and dreams about what life should be, then maturity is letting go again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beth-danielson/if-growing-up-is-the-process-of-creating-ideas-and-dreams-about-what/) Mary Beth Danielson > [Growing up is mostly the process of having to acknowledge the differences between your world and the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/growing-up-is-mostly-the-process-of-having-to-acknowledge-the/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [It is a growing process. You can't just like beer. You have to start somewhere and learn the different flavors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/it-is-a-growing-process-you-can-t-just-like-beer-you-have-to-start/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) > [most of us, as we undergo the growing up process, do not get what we want or even what we should. We get what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-of-us-as-we-undergo-the-growing-up-process-do-not-get-what-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/we-are-not-yet-what-we-shall-be-but-we-are-growing-toward-it-the/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The whole growing-up process seems to have eluded me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/the-whole-growing-up-process-seems-to-have-eluded-me/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Growing up is a process that never ends. It isn't a point you attain so you can say, Hooray, I'm grown up. Some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/growing-up-is-a-process-that-never-ends-it-isn-t-a-point-you-attain/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More by Etty Hillesum > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Every word born of an inner necessity - writing must never be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/every-word-born-of-an-inner-necessity-writing-must-never-be-anything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [That fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/that-fear-of-missing-out-on-things-makes-you-miss-out-on-everything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [There are moments when I feel like giving up or giving in, but I soon rally again and do my duty as I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/there-are-moments-when-i-feel-like-giving-up-or-giving-in-but-i-soon/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Here, beside this great black surface that is my desk, I feel as though I am on a desert island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/here-beside-this-great-black-surface-that-is-my-desk-i-feel-as-though/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [The externals are simply so many props; everything we need is within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/the-externals-are-simply-so-many-props-everything-we-need-is-within-us/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one finds the strength to deal with small things, one finds it to deal with the large ones as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-finds-the-strength-to-deal-with-small-things-one-finds-it-to/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [All disasters stem from us. Why is there a war? Perhaps because now and then I might be inclined to snap at my neighbour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/all-disasters-stem-from-us-why-is-there-a-war-perhaps-because-now-and/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-the-most-important-thing-in-a-whole-day-is-the-rest-we-take/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We human beings cause monstrous conditions, but precisely because we cause them we soon learn to adapt ourselves to them. Only if we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-human-beings-cause-monstrous-conditions-but-precisely-because-we/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/despite-everything-life-is-full-of-beauty-and-meaning/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes my day is crammed full of people and talk and yet I have the feeling of living in utter peace and quiet. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-my-day-is-crammed-full-of-people-and-talk-and-yet-i-have/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/to-live-fully-outwardly-and-inwardly-not-to-ignore-the-external/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one burdens the future with one's worries, it cannot grow organically. I am filled with confidence, not that I shall succeed in worldly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-burdens-the-future-with-one-s-worries-it-cannot-grow/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies. We make mental provisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-have-to-fight-them-daily-like-fleas-those-many-small-worries-about/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) [Explore all 62 Etty Hillesum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Slowly but surely I have been soaking Rilke up these last few months: the man, his work and his life. And that is probably the only right way with literature, with study, with people or with anything else: to let it all soak in, to let it all mature slowly inside you until it has become a part of yourself. That, too, is a growing process. Everything is a growing process. 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