Alacrity Quote by Hermann Hesse
“If a bell failed to ring, if a stove smoked, if a wheel on a machine stuck, you knew at once where to look and did so with alacrity; you found the defect and knew how to cure it. But the thing within you, the secret mainspring that alone gave meaning to life, the thing within us that alone is living, alone is capable of feeling pleasure and pain, of craving happiness and experiencing it- that was unknown. You knew nothing about that, nothing at all, and if the mainspring failed there was no cure. Wasn't it insane?”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Demian by Hermann Hesse, 1919
The quote contrasts external problem‑solving with the unknowable inner self, suggesting that while we can quickly fix material defects, we cannot repair the soul when it fails.
In simple terms: We can fix things outside us, but not our inner self.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of self‑repair.
Themes
self‑awareness
existential
limitations
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- mental health
- spiritual seeking
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we address inner suffering?
- Can external solutions help inner crises?
A Different Perspective
The inner self may be beyond rational control.
![“... Don [Hewitt, 60 Minutes exec producer] told me, "You have set broadcast journalism back 20 years." Naturally, I was both proud and elated although too modest to say so, but broadcast journalism recovered with alacrity, my contract wasn't renewed, and the incident was forgotten.” quote by Nicholas von Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d8/nicholas-von-hoffman-32722_alacrity_don-hewitt-60-minutes-exec-producer-told_603904.jpg)
