--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What should I possibly have to tell you…" description: "\"What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one? Perhaps that you're searching far too much? That in all that searching, you don't find the t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/hermann-hesse-130_finding_what-should-i-possibly-have-to-tell-you_1681664.png" --- # What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one?… ![“What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one? Perhaps that you're searching far too much? That in all that searching, you don't find the time for finding?” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/hermann-hesse-130_finding_what-should-i-possibly-have-to-tell-you_1681664.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/hermann-hesse-130_finding_what-should-i-possibly-have-to-tell-you_1681664.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/hermann-hesse-130_finding_what-should-i-possibly-have-to-tell-you_1681664.png) > “What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one? Perhaps that you're searching far too much? That in all that searching, you don't find the time for finding?” [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 speaker questions the endless search for meaning, suggesting that searching consumes time that could be spent actually finding. **In simple terms:** Too much searching wastes time for real discovery. Key Takeaway Balance searching with doing. Themes search meaning time management Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - goal setting - creative work - learning new skills - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism philosophy mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What are you searching for? - How can you act while searching? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis may paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Far Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-searching-964468/) [Finding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Search](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/search/) [Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searching/) [Searching Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searching-far-964467/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Venerable Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venerable-searching-964466/) ## Related quotes > [“Quoth Siddhartha: "What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one? Perhaps that you're searching far too much? That in all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/quoth-siddhartha-what-should-i-possibly-have-to-tell-you-oh-venerable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I've been everywhere now, searching far and wide but she was down the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/i-ve-been-everywhere-now-searching-far-and-wide-but-she-was-down-the/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [“When someone is searching then it might easily happen that the only thing his eyes still see is that what he searches for, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/when-someone-is-searching-then-it-might-easily-happen-that-the-only/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“Searching means having a goal, but finding means being free, being open, having no goal ... because in striving for your goal there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/searching-means-having-a-goal-but-finding-means-being-free-being-open/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [It's about how you're like a lighthouse, always searching far into the distance. But the thing you're looking for is usually close to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/it-s-about-how-you-re-like-a-lighthouse-always-searching-far-into-the/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [“Searching is just like finding, only it comes first and is spelled differently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-searcher/searching-is-just-like-finding-only-it-comes-first-and-is-spelled/) [The Searcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-searcher/) > [“We keep searching for things all our life, yet seldom do we notice them!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-keep-searching-for-things-all-our-life-yet-seldom-do-we-notice-them/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [Look for it, even if you dont know its there, because you might find something better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-decamp/look-for-it-even-if-you-dont-know-its-there-because-you-might-find/) [Aaron DeCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-decamp/) > [“If you want to find wilier race by common sense, then you have just narrowed your searching area.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/if-you-want-to-find-wilier-race-by-common-sense-then-you-have-just/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I'm always looking to make something that didn't exist before, fumbling about in the dark, not just while making a collection. The search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/i-m-always-looking-to-make-something-that-didn-t-exist-before/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) > [“What you seek you shall find unless you stop searching for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-zernoff/what-you-seek-you-shall-find-unless-you-stop-searching-for-it/) [Raphael Zernoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-zernoff/) > [I have found that searching for insight is more often than not a path to total darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-have-found-that-searching-for-insight-is-more-often-than-not-a-path/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [The writing life is one long, never-ending search for narrative. Well, it's not even a conscious searching. It happens even while you're busy buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/the-writing-life-is-one-long-never-ending-search-for-narrative-well/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“Like radars, restless and searching.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-newman/like-radars-restless-and-searching/) [Liz Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-newman/) > [When you don't know what you're searching for, you have to look absolutely everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/when-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-searching-for-you-have-to-look/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## 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 Finding quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [I'm finding out that I'm not squeamish whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gehlfuss/i-m-finding-out-that-i-m-not-squeamish-whatsoever/) [Nick Gehlfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gehlfuss/) > [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes the challenge of beating the jet lag and getting a decent sleep can be as hard to solve as finding the right setup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/sometimes-the-challenge-of-beating-the-jet-lag-and-getting-a-decent/) [Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/) > [The key to finding protein for your snacks when you're on the go is making sure said snacks don't need to be refrigerated, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/the-key-to-finding-protein-for-your-snacks-when-you-re-on-the-go-is/) [Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/) > [Just a decade after 'Living in Bondage,' Nollywood films, made in some 300 languages, were being watched in both urban and rural areas, distributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-flock/just-a-decade-after-living-in-bondage-nollywood-films-made-in-some/) [Elizabeth Flock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-flock/) > [I have always been interested in finding new ways to play and have looked at handball keepers and ice hockey goal-minders. It helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-have-always-been-interested-in-finding-new-ways-to-play-and-have/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-take-my-wife-everywhere-but-she-keeps-finding-her-way-back/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [I've never had trouble finding inspiration for new songs, no matter what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kowalczyk/i-ve-never-had-trouble-finding-inspiration-for-new-songs-no-matter/) [Ed Kowalczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kowalczyk/) > [It's true, I'm the youngest, highest-grossing French director. I have a few records, but no one knows or simply doesn't care. That's good, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/it-s-true-i-m-the-youngest-highest-grossing-french-director-i-have-a/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [There is a promise land. Just don't give up finding it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emel-oner/there-is-a-promise-land-just-don-t-give-up-finding-it/) [Emel oner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emel-oner/) [Browse all 1,256 Finding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one? Perhaps that you're searching far too much? 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