Capable Quote by Hermann Hesse
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Demian, Hermann Hesse, 1919
People often find it easier to die for a cause than to live up to an ideal, revealing a paradox of commitment.
In simple terms: Men die for ideals more easily than they live by them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the gap between belief and action.
Themes
idealism
commitment
human nature
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal sacrifice
- leadership
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
existentialism
paradox
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you embody your ideals consistently?
- What prevents people from living their ideals?
A Different Perspective
Idealism can be abstract and hard to sustain daily.
![“[The Community's] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it is always upon nothingness that God is pleased to rear His works. If at any day we accomplish some good here, the glory will certainly be His alone, since…” quote by Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b8/theodore-guerin-54729_accomplish_the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give_7176.jpg)
