--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wild longing for strong emotions and…" description: "\"A wild longing for strong emotions and sensations seethes in me, a rage against this toneless, flat, normal and sterile life. I have a mad impulse to s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/hermann-hesse-130_anger_a-wild-longing-for-strong-emotions-and-s_185269.jpg" --- # A wild longing for strong emotions and sensations seethes… ![“A wild longing for strong emotions and sensations seethes in me, a rage against this toneless, flat, normal and sterile life. I have a mad impulse to smash something, a warehouse perhaps, or a cathedral, or myself, to committ outrages...” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/hermann-hesse-130_anger_a-wild-longing-for-strong-emotions-and-s_185269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/hermann-hesse-130_anger_a-wild-longing-for-strong-emotions-and-s_185269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/hermann-hesse-130_anger_a-wild-longing-for-strong-emotions-and-s_185269.jpg) > “A wild longing for strong emotions and sensations seethes in me, a rage against this toneless, flat, normal and sterile life. I have a mad impulse to smash something, a warehouse perhaps, or a cathedral, or myself, to committ outrages...” [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. The speaker feels a desperate craving for intense feeling, rebelling against a bland, sterile existence, and contemplates destructive acts as a release. **In simple terms:** A yearning for strong emotions clashes with a dull life, leading to thoughts of violent outbursts. Key Takeaway Channel intense feelings into creative or constructive outlets. Themes existential rebellion intensity despair freedom Mood frustrated passionate Type dramatic philosophical When to use this quote - art creation - physical exercise - therapy - journaling Key Concepts Existentialism psychology nihilism Questions to Reflect On - What non‑destructive ways can you express this yearning? - How can you find meaning without destruction? A Different Perspective Violent impulses can be harmful and may not resolve underlying emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Cathedrals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathedrals/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Flats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flats/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Mad Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-impulse-1215206/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Outrage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outrage/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-emotions/) [Wild Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-longing-1971104/) ## Related quotes > [“A wild longing for strong emotions and sensations seethes in me, a rage against this toneless, flat, normal and sterile life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-wild-longing-for-strong-emotions-and-sensations-seethes-in-me-a-2/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I had a mad impulse to throw you down on the lunar surface and commit interstellar perversion with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-had-a-mad-impulse-to-throw-you-down-on-the-lunar-surface-and-commit/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“The smile faded from Jace’s mouth. “That’s not my home,” he said. “This is my home now.” A spasm of fury twisting his features,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-smile-faded-from-jace-s-mouth-that-s-not-my-home-he-said-this-is/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“When I have neither pleasure nor pain and have been breathing for a while the lukewarm insipid air of these so called good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/when-i-have-neither-pleasure-nor-pain-and-have-been-breathing-for-a-2/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“I feel so bad in my childish soul that I smash my moldering lyre of thanksgiving in the face of the slumbering god of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/i-feel-so-bad-in-my-childish-soul-that-i-smash-my-moldering-lyre-of/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“It’s called being in love. It’s more frightening than confronting your deepest fear and opens you to being hurt beyond the physical plane.” He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurann-dohner/it-s-called-being-in-love-it-s-more-frightening-than-confronting-your/) [Laurann Dohner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurann-dohner/) > [The nature of music is mysterious and so much so that it generates strong emotions within us. It moves along passages that reach the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/the-nature-of-music-is-mysterious-and-so-much-so-that-it-generates/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [“Many strong emotions are actually intricate tapestries woven of various strands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/many-strong-emotions-are-actually-intricate-tapestries-woven-of/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“The caption reads, “Emperor Andon-Roon enjoys a surge in popularity after brokering a peace deal with Caderyn after twelve cycles of war.” For some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-alder/the-caption-reads-emperor-andon-roon-enjoys-a-surge-in-popularity/) [Stephen Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-alder/) > [“Strong emotions create significant changes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-marques/strong-emotions-create-significant-changes/) [Daniel Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-marques/) > [“Jean-Claude’s eyes widened just a bit. ‘Ma petite, you have had a busy night, I see.’ His French accent was as thick as I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/jean-claude-s-eyes-widened-just-a-bit-ma-petite-you-have-had-a-busy/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Reason is the first victim of strong emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/reason-is-the-first-victim-of-strong-emotion/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [I grew up in a family that despised displays of strong emotion, rage in particular. We stewed. We sulked. When arguments did occur, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-grew-up-in-a-family-that-despised-displays-of-strong-emotion-rage/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [A man has only a limited number of ways in which he can express strong emotions or violent passions. He uses the same gestures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadeusz-borowski/a-man-has-only-a-limited-number-of-ways-in-which-he-can-express/) [Tadeusz Borowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadeusz-borowski/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) ## More by Hermann Hesse > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“The mistaken and unhappy notion that a man is an enduring unity is known to you. It is also known to you that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-mistaken-and-unhappy-notion-that-a-man-is-an-enduring-unity-is/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“... it would be better for our country and the world in general, if at least the few people who were capable of thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-would-be-better-for-our-country-and-the-world-in-general-if-at/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-bird-fights-its-way-out-of-the-egg-the-egg-is-the-world-who-would/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/everything-becomes-a-little-different-as-soon-as-it-is-spoken-out-loud/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“..it is useless for you to build walls and dormitories and chapels and churches. Death looks through the window and laughs..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-is-useless-for-you-to-build-walls-and-dormitories-and-chapels-and/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“When the world is at peace, when all things are tranquil and all men obey their superiors in all their courses, then music can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/when-the-world-is-at-peace-when-all-things-are-tranquil-and-all-men/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [A mere nothing suffices — and the lightning strikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-mere-nothing-suffices-and-the-lightning-strikes/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“And if time is not real, then the dividing line that seems to lie between this world and eternity, between suffering and bliss, between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/and-if-time-is-not-real-then-the-dividing-line-that-seems-to-lie/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Beautiful was this world, looking at it thus, without searching, thus simply, thus childlike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/beautiful-was-this-world-looking-at-it-thus-without-searching-thus/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Were not the gods forms created like me and you, mortal, transient?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/were-not-the-gods-forms-created-like-me-and-you-mortal-transient/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) [Explore all 951 Hermann Hesse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A wild longing for strong emotions and sensations seethes in me, a rage against this toneless, flat, normal and sterile life. 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