Business Quote by Hermann Hesse
““It was a strange business and it made a sad and curious impression on me; everything that had belonged to me in these earlier years of my life left me, was alien and lost to me. I suddenly saw how sad and artificial my life had been during this period, for the loves, friends, habits and pleasures of these years were discarded like badly fitting clothes. I parted from them without pain and all that remained was to wonder that I could have endured them so long.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Demian, 1919
The narrator feels alienated from his past life, realizing it was artificial; he lets it go without pain, questioning his endurance.
In simple terms: He sees his past as false and moves on.
Key Takeaway
Question the authenticity of your past.
Themes
identity
alienation
self‑realization
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career transition
- breakup
- spiritual crisis
- creative block
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
personal transformation
Questions to Reflect On
- What parts of your past feel inauthentic?
- How can you honor growth while moving forward?
A Different Perspective
Letting go may cause hidden grief later.
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![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)