--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, despite everything, it was almost a…" description: "\"“But, despite everything, it was almost a pleasure to suffer those torments. I had crawled through life blindly and dully for so long, my heart had kep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/herman-hesse-14882_emotions_but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-p_2690921.jpg" --- # But, despite everything, it was almost a pleasure to… ![“But, despite everything, it was almost a pleasure to suffer those torments. I had crawled through life blindly and dully for so long, my heart had kept silent and had sat, impoverished, in a corner for so long, that even these self accusations, this horror, this whole ghastly emotion in my soul…” quote by Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/herman-hesse-14882_emotions_but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-p_2690921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/herman-hesse-14882_emotions_but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-p_2690921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/herman-hesse-14882_emotions_but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-p_2690921.jpg) > ““But, despite everything, it was almost a pleasure to suffer those torments. I had crawled through life blindly and dully for so long, my heart had kept silent and had sat, impoverished, in a corner for so long, that even these self accusations, this horror, this whole ghastly emotion in my soul was welcome. After all, it was an emotion, flames were still rising, it showed that my heart was still alive! In a confused way, in the midst of misery I felt something like liberation and springtime.”” [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering can awaken a dormant vitality, turning pain into a catalyst for personal liberation and renewed vitality. **In simple terms:** Pain can spark new life and freedom. Key Takeaway Allow suffering to reveal hidden strengths. Themes suffering awakening liberation Mood introspective energized Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - mental health - creative breakthrough - spiritual quest Key Concepts psychology existentialism growth Questions to Reflect On - What does this painful feeling teach you about yourself? - How can you channel anguish into creative energy? A Different Perspective Excessive suffering can cause lasting trauma if not integrated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion Flames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-flames-2657846/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Finding yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-yourself/) [Liberation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberation/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Midst Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midst-misery-2657848/) [Misery Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery-felt-2657845/) [Pleasure Suffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-suffer-2657847/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Suffer Torments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffer-torments-2657849/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“her heart swelled up with misery, until it felt too large for her bosom. It beat with odd little jerks; her hands were cold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/her-heart-swelled-up-with-misery-until-it-felt-too-large-for-her/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [If I am being alone does not mean I am a loner rather I am healing me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhi-saini/if-i-am-being-alone-does-not-mean-i-am-a-loner-rather-i-am-healing-me/) [Nidhi Saini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhi-saini/) > [Theres an awkward silence when Eric clears his throat and speaks up. So Jade, tell us about yourself. Its slightly strange but I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/theres-an-awkward-silence-when-eric-clears-his-throat-and-speaks-up/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [If you find yourself in a relationship or even a friendship with someone who's conflicted with their gender identity, just be kind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-d-thompson/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-relationship-or-even-a-friendship-with/) [Linda D. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-d-thompson/) > [I noticed that once you realize someone's watching you it's pretty hard not to find yourself watching them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-rosoff/i-noticed-that-once-you-realize-someone-s-watching-you-it-s-pretty/) [Meg Rosoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-rosoff/) > [I am to the point where I don't know if I'm getting better, or I'm just used to the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-morton/i-am-to-the-point-where-i-don-t-know-if-i-m-getting-better-or-i-m/) [Cori Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-morton/) > [What you discover on your own is always more exciting than what someone else discovers for you - it's like the marriage between romantic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-rafferty/what-you-discover-on-your-own-is-always-more-exciting-than-what/) [Terrence Rafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-rafferty/) > [“The act of consciousness is central; otherwise we are overrun by the complexes. The hero in each of us is required to answer the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hollis/the-act-of-consciousness-is-central-otherwise-we-are-overrun-by-the/) [James Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hollis/) > [An order given in battle, an instruction issued by the master of a sailing ship, a cry for help, are as powerful in modifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronislaw-malinowski/an-order-given-in-battle-an-instruction-issued-by-the-master-of-a/) [Bronislaw Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronislaw-malinowski/) > [Sometimes, the most important thing you'll need to know, is how to be your own best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-the-most-important-thing-you-ll-need-to-know-is-how-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be the best you can be, is to know the person in the mirror better than you think you know everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-lopez/to-be-the-best-you-can-be-is-to-know-the-person-in-the-mirror-better/) [Wendy Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-lopez/) > [I was going to say 'my friend Stuart', but I suppose he's not a friend any more. I seem to have lost a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-was-going-to-say-my-friend-stuart-but-i-suppose-he-s-not-a-friend/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [I work with a lot of music programs and there's a steep learning curve to a lot of them. You can really find yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/i-work-with-a-lot-of-music-programs-and-there-s-a-steep-learning/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) > [Your Starbucks order is directly proportional to how complicated your personality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/your-starbucks-order-is-directly-proportional-to-how-complicated-your/) [Kevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) ## More by Herman Hesse > [“O how incomprehensible everything was, and actually sad, although it was also beautiful. One knew nothing. One lived and ran about the earth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/o-how-incomprehensible-everything-was-and-actually-sad-although-it/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [Love exists to show us how much we can endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/love-exists-to-show-us-how-much-we-can-endure/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“If you need something desperately and find it, this is not an accident; your own craving and compulsion leads you to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/if-you-need-something-desperately-and-find-it-this-is-not-an-accident/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“and so I think, O Illustrious One, that nobody finds salvation through teachings. To nobody, O Illustrious One, can you communicate in words and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/and-so-i-think-o-illustrious-one-that-nobody-finds-salvation-through/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Once he said to her: 'You are like me; you are different from other people. You are Kamala and no one else, and within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/once-he-said-to-her-you-are-like-me-you-are-different-from-other/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“My story isn't sweet and harmonious, like invented stories. It tastes of folly and bewilderment, of madness and dream, like the life of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/my-story-isn-t-sweet-and-harmonious-like-invented-stories-it-tastes/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Exactly, my dear sir, as the radio for ten minutes together projects the most lovely music without regard into the most impossible places, into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/exactly-my-dear-sir-as-the-radio-for-ten-minutes-together-projects/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“In spite of their friendship, they were so far apart, the bowstring was so taut between them: a seeing man and a blind man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/in-spite-of-their-friendship-they-were-so-far-apart-the-bowstring-was/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [It was as if all of the happiness, all of the magic of this blissful hour had flowed together into these stirring, bittersweet tones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/it-was-as-if-all-of-the-happiness-all-of-the-magic-of-this-blissful/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Are ideals attainable? Do we live to abolish death? No-we live to fear it and then again to love it, and just for death's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/are-ideals-attainable-do-we-live-to-abolish-death-no-we-live-to-fear/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“The morality of artists is replaced by aesthetics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/the-morality-of-artists-is-replaced-by-aesthetics/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“There is, in fact, no way back either to the wolf or to the child. From the very start there is no innocence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/there-is-in-fact-no-way-back-either-to-the-wolf-or-to-the-child-from/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“After so many years of foolishness, you have once again had an idea, have done something, have heard the bird in your chest singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/after-so-many-years-of-foolishness-you-have-once-again-had-an-idea/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Govinda said: "But what you call thing, is it something real, something intrinsic? Is it not only the illusion of Maya, only image and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/govinda-said-but-what-you-call-thing-is-it-something-real-something/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“A longing to wander tears my heart when I hear trees rustling in the wind at evening. If one listens to them silently for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/a-longing-to-wander-tears-my-heart-when-i-hear-trees-rustling-in-the-2/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) [Explore all 24 Herman Hesse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) ## More Emotions quotes > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) [Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mind has trouble processing all the emotions I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mind-has-trouble-processing-all-the-emotions-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“When love carries us away on its brittle wings, we are too intoxicated to comprehend its power. We just want to soar and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/balroop-singh/when-love-carries-us-away-on-its-brittle-wings-we-are-too-intoxicated/) [Balroop Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/balroop-singh/) > [God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-daugherty/god-help-me-to-focus-on-truth-instead-of-the-trial-help-me-to-give/) [Whitney Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-daugherty/) > [Love is an ocean of emotions entirely sorrounded by expensee..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-an-ocean-of-emotions-entirely-sorrounded-by-expensee/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) [Browse all 4,415 Emotions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But, despite everything, it was almost a pleasure to suffer those torments. I had crawled through life blindly and dully for so long, my heart had kept silent and had sat, impoverished, in a corner for so long, that even these self accusations, this horror, this whole ghastly emotion in my soul was welcome. After all, it was an emotion, flames were still rising, it showed that my heart was still alive! In a confused way, in the midst of misery I felt something like liberation and springtime.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Hesse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-pleasure-to-suffer-those/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Emotions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-pleasure-to-suffer-those/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/herman-hesse-14882_emotions_but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-p_2690921.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/herman-hesse-14882_emotions_but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-p_2690921.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/herman-hesse-14882_emotions_but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-p_2690921.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But, despite everything, it was almost a pleasure to suffer those torments. I had crawled through life…” — Herman Hesse", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herman Hesse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But, despite everything, it was almost...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-pleasure-to-suffer-those/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/but-despite-everything-it-was-almost-a-pleasure-to-suffer-those/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```