--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought of nothing but her. I expected…" description: "\"“I thought of nothing but her. I expected everything from her. I was ready to lay everything at her feet. I was not in the least in love with her. Yet ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/hermann-hesse-130_death-wish_i-thought-of-nothing-but-her-i-expected_1620745.jpg" --- # I thought of nothing but her. I expected everything from… ![“I thought of nothing but her. I expected everything from her. I was ready to lay everything at her feet. I was not in the least in love with her. Yet I had only to imagine that she might fail to keep the appointment, or forget it, to see where I stood. Then the world would be a desert once more…” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/hermann-hesse-130_death-wish_i-thought-of-nothing-but-her-i-expected_1620745.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/hermann-hesse-130_death-wish_i-thought-of-nothing-but-her-i-expected_1620745.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/hermann-hesse-130_death-wish_i-thought-of-nothing-but-her-i-expected_1620745.jpg) > ““I thought of nothing but her. I expected everything from her. I was ready to lay everything at her feet. I was not in the least in love with her. Yet I had only to imagine that she might fail to keep the appointment, or forget it, to see where I stood. Then the world would be a desert once more, one day as dreary and worthless as the last, and the deathly stillness and wretchedness would surround me once more on all sides with no way out from this hell of silence except the razor.”” [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. Obsessive fixation on a person creates emotional dependency and fear of loss, leading to inner emptiness. **In simple terms:** Fixation causes emptiness and fear. Key Takeaway Seek balanced relationships, not obsession. Themes love loneliness existential angst Mood melancholic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - romantic relationships - personal growth - therapy sessions Key Concepts Attachment theory psychology of desire Questions to Reflect On - What does this fixation reveal about your needs? - How can you cultivate inner fulfillment independent of others? A Different Perspective Obsessions can be self‑fulfilling prophecies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appointment Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appointment-forget-267735/) [Death wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-wish/) [Fail Appointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-appointment-267736/) [Fixation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixation/) [Infatuation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infatuation/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Stillness Wretchedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness-wretchedness-267733/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-expected-267734/) ## Related quotes > [My daddy thought - no, he expected - that my brothers and I and our generation would make the world a better place. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/my-daddy-thought-no-he-expected-that-my-brothers-and-i-and-our/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I have often thought that less is expected of the president of a great corporation than of an American wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-have-often-thought-that-less-is-expected-of-the-president-of-a/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“He expected too much from people, that was the problem, Ethan thought. He expected too much from life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frasier/he-expected-too-much-from-people-that-was-the-problem-ethan-thought/) [Anne Frasier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frasier/) > [He expects nothing, she thought, because he's never had anything. And nothing was expected of him. He was free in a way she never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cinda-williams-chima/he-expects-nothing-she-thought-because-he-s-never-had-anything-and/) [Cinda Williams Chima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cinda-williams-chima/) > [“She was very young, he thought, she still expected something from life, she did not understand that to push an inconvenient person over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/she-was-very-young-he-thought-she-still-expected-something-from-life/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [When you cast away all your greed and fixation in adversity, you can find unexpected strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momofuku-ando/when-you-cast-away-all-your-greed-and-fixation-in-adversity-you-can/) [Momofuku Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momofuku-ando/) > [“I have a slight oral fixation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/i-have-a-slight-oral-fixation/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [The proof given by Wright, that non-adaptive differentiation will occur in small populations owing to "drift," or the chance fixation of some new mutation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/the-proof-given-by-wright-that-non-adaptive-differentiation-will/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [The real enemy of happiness is the mind's fixations and delusions... If you have the right mind, you can overcome anything - you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-real-enemy-of-happiness-is-the-mind-s-fixations-and-delusions-if/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I'd go to conference after conference and it would essentially be the talking points. Either pro or con. It's amazing how polarized the tech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/i-d-go-to-conference-after-conference-and-it-would-essentially-be-the/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [The living room is a monument to my impulsive spending habits. I've got more than two hundred DVDs, including cinematic greats such as Monkey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/the-living-room-is-a-monument-to-my-impulsive-spending-habits-i-ve/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [Letting go of fixation is effectively a process of learning to be free, because every time we let go of something, we become free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/traleg-kyabgon-rinpoche/letting-go-of-fixation-is-effectively-a-process-of-learning-to-be/) [Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/traleg-kyabgon-rinpoche/) > [“A wish without a potential is just a fixation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinny-ekechukwu/a-wish-without-a-potential-is-just-a-fixation/) [Zinny Ekechukwu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinny-ekechukwu/) > [Meditation is one of the rare occasions when we're not doing anything. Otherwise, we're always doing something, we're always thinking something, we're always occupied.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/meditation-is-one-of-the-rare-occasions-when-we-re-not-doing-anything/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [I was haunted always by my other life-my drab room in the Bronx, my square foot of the subway, my fixation upon the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-was-haunted-always-by-my-other-life-my-drab-room-in-the-bronx-my/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## 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 Death wish quotes > [Jesus, you've got a death wish." "Right now I have a bathroom-and-sleep-somewhere safe wish, kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/jesus-you-ve-got-a-death-wish-right-now-i-have-a-bathroom-and-sleep/) [Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/) > [“Knock it off,Finn!" I tried to pull my arm from him, but physically he was still stronger than me. "Loki is right. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/knock-it-off-finn-i-tried-to-pull-my-arm-from-him-but-physically-he/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [In defence, I have cultivated a death wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-fury/in-defence-i-have-cultivated-a-death-wish/) [Billy Fury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-fury/) > [Destroy everything. That's all well and fine, but you got to offer something in it's place. Since I always have a point and purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/destroy-everything-that-s-all-well-and-fine-but-you-got-to-offer/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [“I don't give a damn if you were the featured date du jour of the sultan of Brunei. Get it through your head: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherry-adair/i-don-t-give-a-damn-if-you-were-the-featured-date-du-jour-of-the/) [Cherry Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherry-adair/) > [“Er Lang examined his shoes in dismay. “You should have told me there was mud down here.” “Is that all you can say?” But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yangsze-choo/er-lang-examined-his-shoes-in-dismay-you-should-have-told-me-there/) [Yangsze Choo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yangsze-choo/) > [“That's just stupid, Tory! Quit being so damn stubborn!” “Not a chance! You've got some kind of death wish! We can't even trust our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reichs/that-s-just-stupid-tory-quit-being-so-damn-stubborn-not-a-chance-you/) [Kathy Reichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reichs/) > [This life in us; however low it flickers or fiercely burns, is still a divine flame which no man dare presume to put out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/this-life-in-us-however-low-it-flickers-or-fiercely-burns-is-still-a/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [I don't have a death wish. On the contrary, I'm hanging onto my life like never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ueli-steck/i-don-t-have-a-death-wish-on-the-contrary-i-m-hanging-onto-my-life/) [Ueli Steck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ueli-steck/) > [“In fact, had there been less discussion of the syntactical construction of Schoenberg’s music, and more of what it says, people might more readily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-macdonald/in-fact-had-there-been-less-discussion-of-the-syntactical/) [Malcolm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-macdonald/) > [What?" I ask. "I'm developing a theory." "And it is?" She picks up her hamburger, grins, and says, "That you have a death wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-i-ask-i-m-developing-a-theory-and-it-is-she-picks-up-her/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Much time has passed since the evil of humans ceased to surprise you. 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The enemy army fell back before him like he radiated death, which of course he did. Through the face guard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-strode-forward-the-enemy-army-fell-back-before-him-like-he/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 108 Death wish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-wish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I thought of nothing but her. I expected everything from her. I was ready to lay everything at her feet. I was not in the least in love with her. Yet I had only to imagine that she might fail to keep the appointment, or forget it, to see where I stood. 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