--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Slower, he walked along in his thoughts…" description: "\"“Slower, he walked along in his thoughts and asked himself: \"But what is this, what you have sought to learn from teachings and from teachers, and what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/hermann-hesse-130_education_slower-he-walked-along-in-his-thoughts-a_1173581.jpg" --- # Slower, he walked along in his thoughts and asked himself… ![“Slower, he walked along in his thoughts and asked himself: "But what is this, what you have sought to learn from teachings and from teachers, and what they, who have taught you much, were still unable to teach you?" And he found: "It was the self, the purpose and essence of which I sought to…” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/hermann-hesse-130_education_slower-he-walked-along-in-his-thoughts-a_1173581.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/hermann-hesse-130_education_slower-he-walked-along-in-his-thoughts-a_1173581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/hermann-hesse-130_education_slower-he-walked-along-in-his-thoughts-a_1173581.jpg) > ““Slower, he walked along in his thoughts and asked himself: "But what is this, what you have sought to learn from teachings and from teachers, and what they, who have taught you much, were still unable to teach you?" And he found: "It was the self, the purpose and essence of which I sought to learn. It was the self, I wanted to free myself from, which I sought to overcome. But I was not able to overcome it, could only deceive it, could only flee from it, only hide from it. Truly, no thing in this world has kept my thoughts thus busy, as this my very own self, this mystery of me being alive, of me being one and being separated and isolated from all others, of me being Siddhartha! And there is no thing in this world I know less about than about me, about Siddhartha!”” [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. The passage explores the inner quest for self‑knowledge, recognizing that true learning comes from confronting one’s own ego and limitations. **In simple terms:** Finding oneself requires confronting the ego. Key Takeaway Seek self‑awareness beyond external teachings. Themes spirituality self‑knowledge inner conflict Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal meditation - spiritual practice - psychological therapy Key Concepts ego mindfulness philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself remain a mystery? - How can you balance self‑knowledge with learning from others? A Different Perspective The focus on self may ignore communal learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Isolated Siddhartha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isolated-siddhartha-3412540/) [Know Siddhartha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-siddhartha-3186198/) [Learn Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-self-409005/) [Siddhartha Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siddhartha-thing-3412541/) [Walked Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walked-thoughts-3412542/) ## Related quotes > [Truly, nothing in the world has so occupied my thoughts as this I, this riddle, the fact I am alive, that I am separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/truly-nothing-in-the-world-has-so-occupied-my-thoughts-as-this-i-this/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“Truly, nothing in the world has occupied my thoughts as much as the Self, this riddle, that I live, that I am one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/truly-nothing-in-the-world-has-occupied-my-thoughts-as-much-as-the/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“but what is it you wanted to learn from the teachings and teachers, and those who taught you so much, what could they not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/but-what-is-it-you-wanted-to-learn-from-the-teachings-and-teachers/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“Having been pondering while slowly walking along, he now stopped as these thoughts caught hold of him, and right away another thought sprang forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/having-been-pondering-while-slowly-walking-along-he-now-stopped-as/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“Thinking, he walked ever more slowly and asked himself, What is it now that you were hoping to learn from doctrines and teachers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/thinking-he-walked-ever-more-slowly-and-asked-himself-what-is-it-now/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [If you cut your finger,don't go to pieces over it. 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If we are not satisfied with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/be-original-be-yourself-in-trying-to-become-like-someone-else-we-are/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [We must learn to be self-reliant and independent of schools, courts, protection and patronage of a Government we seek to end, if it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-must-learn-to-be-self-reliant-and-independent-of-schools-courts/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If you have to learn it from a self-help book, you may be beyond help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/if-you-have-to-learn-it-from-a-self-help-book-you-may-be-beyond-help/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) ## 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 Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. 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It was the self, I wanted to free myself from, which I sought to overcome. But I was not able to overcome it, could only deceive it, could only flee from it, only hide from it. Truly, no thing in this world has kept my thoughts thus busy, as this my very own self, this mystery of me being alive, of me being one and being separated and isolated from all others, of me being Siddhartha! 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