--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each man had only one genuine vocation to…" description: "\"Each man had only one genuine vocation to find the way to himself\" — Hermann Hesse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/hermann-hesse-130_career_each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-t_1841181.png" --- # Each man had only one genuine vocation to find the way to… ![“Each man had only one genuine vocation to find the way to himself” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/hermann-hesse-130_career_each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-t_1841181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/hermann-hesse-130_career_each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-t_1841181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/hermann-hesse-130_career_each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-t_1841181.png) > “Each man had only one genuine vocation to find the way to himself” [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. Finding one's true self is the essential purpose of life. **In simple terms:** Discover yourself. Key Takeaway Seek self‑knowledge. Themes identity purpose self‑discovery Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career counseling - personal development - spiritual practice - creative work Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does “the way to himself” mean for you? - How can you honor your authentic vocation? A Different Perspective Self‑discovery can be hindered by external expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Demian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demian/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Synchronicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/synchronicity/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) ## Related quotes > [Each man had only one genuine vocation - to find the way to himself…His task was to discover his own destiny - not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-to-find-the-way-to-himself-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no reality except the one contained within us. That is why so many people live such an unreal life. They take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/there-is-no-reality-except-the-one-contained-within-us-that-is-why-so-2/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“I saw Demian's face and remarked that it was not a boy's face but a man's and then I saw, or rather became aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/i-saw-demian-s-face-and-remarked-that-it-was-not-a-boy-s-face-but-a/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“All I wanted was to try and realize whatever was in me. Why was that so difficult?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/all-i-wanted-was-to-try-and-realize-whatever-was-in-me-why-was-that/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“She rose to her feet and preceded me into the garden twilight. Tall and queenly, the woman of mystery strolled among the silent trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/she-rose-to-her-feet-and-preceded-me-into-the-garden-twilight-tall/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“We who bore the mark might well be considered by the rest of the world as strange, even as insane and dangerous. We had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/we-who-bore-the-mark-might-well-be-considered-by-the-rest-of-the/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“But where we have given of our love and respect not from habit but of our own free will, where we have been children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/but-where-we-have-given-of-our-love-and-respect-not-from-habit-but-of/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/what-isn-t-part-of-ourselves-doesn-t-disturb-us/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Once you are able to make your request in such a way that you will be quite certain of its fulfillment, then the fulfillment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/once-you-are-able-to-make-your-request-in-such-a-way-that-you-will-be/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Every man's story is important, eternal and sacred. That is why every man, as long as he lives and fulfills the will of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/every-man-s-story-is-important-eternal-and-sacred-that-is-why-every/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest. It was a scandal that a breed of fearless and sinister people ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/people-with-courage-and-character-always-seem-sinister-to-the-rest-it/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“But whereas we, in our conception, represented the will of nature to renew itself, to individualize and march forward, the others lived in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/but-whereas-we-in-our-conception-represented-the-will-of-nature-to/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“ "The things we see," said Pistorius gently, "are the things which are already in us. There is no reality beyond what we have inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-things-we-see-said-pistorius-gently-are-the-things-which-are/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“Even as a child I had had at intervals a fondness for observing strange forms in nature, not so much examining them as surrendering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/even-as-a-child-i-had-had-at-intervals-a-fondness-for-observing/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“You are only afraid if you are not in harmony with yourself. People are afraid because they have never owned up to themselves. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/you-are-only-afraid-if-you-are-not-in-harmony-with-yourself-people/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## 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 Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Each man had only one genuine vocation to find the way to himself", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hermann Hesse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-to-find-the-way-to-himself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-to-find-the-way-to-himself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/hermann-hesse-130_career_each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-t_1841181.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/hermann-hesse-130_career_each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-t_1841181.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/hermann-hesse-130_career_each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-t_1841181.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Each man had only one genuine vocation to find the way to himself” — Hermann Hesse", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hermann Hesse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Each man had only one genuine...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-to-find-the-way-to-himself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/each-man-had-only-one-genuine-vocation-to-find-the-way-to-himself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```