--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even as a child I had had at intervals a…" description: "\"“Even as a child I had had at intervals a fondness for observing strange forms in nature, not so much examining them as surrendering myself to their ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/hermann-hesse-130_children_even-as-a-child-i-had-had-at-intervals-a_331120.png" --- # Even as a child I had had at intervals a fondness for… ![“Even as a child I had had at intervals a fondness for observing strange forms in nature, not so much examining them as surrendering myself to their magic, their oblique message. Long tree-roots, coloured veins in rock, patches of oil floating on water, flaws in glass—all such things had a certain…” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/hermann-hesse-130_children_even-as-a-child-i-had-had-at-intervals-a_331120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/hermann-hesse-130_children_even-as-a-child-i-had-had-at-intervals-a_331120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/hermann-hesse-130_children_even-as-a-child-i-had-had-at-intervals-a_331120.png) > ““Even as a child I had had at intervals a fondness for observing strange forms in nature, not so much examining them as surrendering myself to their magic, their oblique message. Long tree-roots, coloured veins in rock, patches of oil floating on water, flaws in glass—all such things had a certain fascination for me, above all, water and fire, smoke, clouds, dust and expecially the swirling specks of colour which swam before my closed eyes.”” [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. Deep curiosity drives us to marvel at natural patterns, fueling imagination and insight. **In simple terms:** Nature’s oddities inspire wonder and creative thought. Key Takeaway Observe and let natural mysteries spark ideas. Themes wonder creativity observation Mood contemplative inspired Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - artistic inspiration - scientific inquiry - personal reflection Key Concepts aesthetic appreciation pattern recognition mindful curiosity Questions to Reflect On - What natural detail captivates you most? - How can this fascination inform your work? A Different Perspective Focusing on wonder may distract from systematic study. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Demian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demian/) [Fascination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascination/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Water and fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-and-fire/) ## Related quotes > [I was always fond of visiting new scenes, and observing strange characters and manners. 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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/) > [“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. 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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 Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. 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