--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man cannot live intensely except at the…" description: "\"“A man cannot live intensely except at the cost of the self. Now the bourgeois treasures nothing more highly than the self (rudimentary as his may be)...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/hermann-hesse-130_bourgeois_a-man-cannot-live-intensely-except-at-th_1608438.jpg" --- # A man cannot live intensely except at the cost of the… ![“A man cannot live intensely except at the cost of the self. Now the bourgeois treasures nothing more highly than the self (rudimentary as his may be). And so at the cost of intensity he achieves his own preservation and security. His harvest is a quiet mind which he prefers to being possessed by…” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/hermann-hesse-130_bourgeois_a-man-cannot-live-intensely-except-at-th_1608438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/hermann-hesse-130_bourgeois_a-man-cannot-live-intensely-except-at-th_1608438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/hermann-hesse-130_bourgeois_a-man-cannot-live-intensely-except-at-th_1608438.jpg) > ““A man cannot live intensely except at the cost of the self. Now the bourgeois treasures nothing more highly than the self (rudimentary as his may be). And so at the cost of intensity he achieves his own preservation and security. His harvest is a quiet mind which he prefers to being possessed by God, as he does comfort to pleasure, convenience to liberty, and a pleasant temperature to that deathly inner consuming fire. The bourgeois is consequently by nature a creature of weak impulses, anxious, fearful of giving himself away and easy to rule. Therefore, he has substituted majority for power, law for force, and the polling booth for responsibility.”” [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense living demands self-sacrifice; the bourgeois seeks safety through conformity, trading passion for a quiet, secure life. **In simple terms:** Living intensely costs self; the bourgeois chooses safety. Key Takeaway Balance passion with security. Themes individualism intensity bourgeoisie security self sacrifice Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - personal ambition - social conformity - political engagement - self‑reflection Key Concepts existentialism psychology social critique Questions to Reflect On - Is intensity always preferable? - How can one retain passion while seeking security? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of comfort and stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bourgeois/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Quiet Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet-mind/) ## Related quotes > [The bourgeois treasures nothing more highly than the self… And so at the cost of intensity he achieves his own preservation andsecurity. 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