--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If man has nothing to eat, fasting is the…" description: "\"If man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do. If, for instance, Siddhartha had not learned to fast, he would have had to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/hermann-hesse-130_can-do_if-man-has-nothing-to-eat-fasting-is-the_719647.jpg" --- # If man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent… ![“If man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do. If, for instance, Siddhartha had not learned to fast, he would have had to seek some kind of work today, either with you, or elsewhere, for hunger would have driven him. But as it is, Siddhartha can wait calmly. He is not…” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/hermann-hesse-130_can-do_if-man-has-nothing-to-eat-fasting-is-the_719647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/hermann-hesse-130_can-do_if-man-has-nothing-to-eat-fasting-is-the_719647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/hermann-hesse-130_can-do_if-man-has-nothing-to-eat-fasting-is-the_719647.jpg) > “If man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do. If, for instance, Siddhartha had not learned to fast, he would have had to seek some kind of work today, either with you, or elsewhere, for hunger would have driven him. But as it is, Siddhartha can wait calmly. He is not impatient, he is not in need, he can ward off hunger for a long time and laugh at it. Therefore, fasting is useful, sir.” [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. Fasting is portrayed as a disciplined, intelligent response to scarcity, allowing inner calm and freedom from immediate physical urges. **In simple terms:** Fasting helps control hunger and stay calm. Key Takeaway Use fasting to gain mental clarity. Themes self‑discipline spirituality self‑reliance Mood reflective serene Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation retreats - periodic fasting for health - stressful work periods - spiritual quests Key Concepts mindfulness detachment inner strength Questions to Reflect On - Can you find calm without denying basic needs? - When does restraint become harmful? A Different Perspective Fasting may be unsafe without proper guidance or health considerations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Eat Fasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eat-fasting-435199/) [Elsewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elsewhere/) [Fasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fasting/) [Fasting Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fasting-intelligent-558450/) [Fasting Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fasting-useful-5659566/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Impatient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impatient/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Laugh Fasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh-fasting-5659567/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Siddhartha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siddhartha/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [If a man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/if-a-man-has-nothing-to-eat-fasting-is-the-most-intelligent-thing-he/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“If a man has nothing to eat, fasting is the smartest thing he can do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/if-a-man-has-nothing-to-eat-fasting-is-the-smartest-thing-he-can-do/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Fasting is not bodily hunger but bodily elevation and purity. 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