Identity Quote by Hermann Hesse
““Thinking, he walked ever more slowly and asked himself, What is it now that you were hoping to learn from doctrines and teachers, and what is it that they—who taught you so much—were unable to teach you? And, he decided, It was the Self whose meaning and nature I wished to learn. It was the Self I wished to escape from, wished to overcome. But I was unable to overcome it, I could only trick it, could only run away from it and hide. Truly, not a single thing in all the world has so occupied my thoughts as this Self of mine, this riddle: that I am alive and that I am One, am different and separate from all others, that I am Siddhartha! And there is not a thing in the world about which I know less than about myself, about Siddhartha!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, 1922
The quest for self‑knowledge reveals that true learning lies beyond external teachings, within the inner self.
In simple terms: Self‑knowledge is the ultimate lesson.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner truth beyond doctrine.
Themes
philosophy
spirituality
identity
Mood
reflective
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation
- solitary travel
- life transitions
Key Concepts
Self
awakening
existential inquiry
Questions to Reflect On
- What part of yourself remains unknown?
- How can you confront your inner self?
A Different Perspective
External guidance is limited; inner conflict persists.
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
