“You must not give way to desires which you don't believe in. I know what you desire. You should, however, either be capable of renouncing these desires or feel wholly justified in having them. Once you are able to make your request in such a way that you will be quite certain of its fulfillment, then the fulfillment will come. But at present you alternate between desire and renunciation and are afraid all the time. All that must be overcome.”

—  Hermann Hesse , book Demian

Demian (1919)

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Hermann Hesse photo
Hermann Hesse 168
German writer 1877–1962

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