--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every person encounters the open door…" description: "\"“Every person encounters the open door here and there in the course of life, and it occurs to everyone at one time or another that everything visible i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/hermann-hesse-130_course-of-life_every-person-encounters-the-open-door-he_1194262.png" --- # Every person encounters the open door here and there in… ![“Every person encounters the open door here and there in the course of life, and it occurs to everyone at one time or another that everything visible is symbolic and that spirit and eternal life are living behind the symbol. Of course, very few people go through the gate and abandon the beautiful…” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/hermann-hesse-130_course-of-life_every-person-encounters-the-open-door-he_1194262.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/hermann-hesse-130_course-of-life_every-person-encounters-the-open-door-he_1194262.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/hermann-hesse-130_course-of-life_every-person-encounters-the-open-door-he_1194262.png) > ““Every person encounters the open door here and there in the course of life, and it occurs to everyone at one time or another that everything visible is symbolic and that spirit and eternal life are living behind the symbol. Of course, very few people go through the gate and abandon the beautiful phenomenon of the outside world for the interior reality that they intuit.”” [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. He describes life as a series of symbolic doors, where few choose inner reality over external appearances, urging deeper spiritual insight. **In simple terms:** Life offers symbolic doors; choose inner truth. Key Takeaway Seek deeper meaning beyond appearances. Themes spirituality symbolism growth Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - art appreciation - philosophical study - life decisions Key Concepts existentialism inner vs outer self Questions to Reflect On - What symbols guide your life? - How do you balance inner and outer worlds? A Different Perspective Not everyone embraces introspection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Course of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course-of-life/) [Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door/) [Eternal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-life/) [Interior Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interior-reality-3556090/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Open Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-door/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/) [Symbolic Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolic-spirit-3556089/) ## Related quotes > [“What you call passion is not a spiritual force, but friction between the soul and the outside world. 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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 Course of life quotes > [“Whatever actions you take, keep in mind that over the course of life, you will fail far more from timidity, procrastination, and carefulness than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margie-warrell/whatever-actions-you-take-keep-in-mind-that-over-the-course-of-life/) [Margie Warrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margie-warrell/) > [It became easy for me to detach myself from the course of life, so that while my hands and mind were engaged in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/it-became-easy-for-me-to-detach-myself-from-the-course-of-life-so/) [John G. 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