Siddhartha Quotes and Responses

Siddhartha Quotes and Responses
From the book Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
By Allison

Quote 1 (page 6 section 1): “Will you keep standing and waiting like this until it is day, noon, evening?
“I shall stand and wait.”
“You will grow weary, Siddhartha.”
“I shall grow weary.”

I think that what Siddhartha meant when he said these words was that he would wait until his father gave him an answer, and that he was already committed to what he wanted to do and he would stick to his decisions. I also think that it is saying to be thorough in everything you do and not let up on something until what you believe is right is accomplished. I think that I can use this quote in my life to try to remember to stick with something once I make a choice, and to never give up on what I want.

Quote 2 (page 20 section 3): “The Buddha has robbed me,” Siddhartha’s thoughts continued, “he has robbed me, but he has bestowed even more on me.”

I think that in these words Siddhartha is saying that the Buddha has taken something from him but he has got something in return, so I think it’s basically the cycle of yin and yang. I do not think that Siddhartha could have come to realization without the Buddha taking his friend, but I do not think that he could have lost his friend without him looking for himself. I think that I can apply this quote to my life by realizing that for every good thing there has to be a bad thing, and using that to help make the bad things seem better.

Quote 3 (page 35 section 6) “But permit me: if you have no possessions, what do you expect to give?”
“Everyone gives what he has. The warrior gives his strength, the merchant gives his wares, the teacher gives his teachings, the farmer his rice, the fisherman his fish.”

I think that in these quotes Siddhartha meant that everyone has something to give, and that you give what you have whether it is a material thing or a thought. I also think that Siddhartha was saying that even though someone may not have a material thing their experience and skills can sometimes be more important than what they possess. I think that I can remember to give whatever I have whether it’s some of my money or some of my knowledge, I can always give. I think that I can also use this quote to always try to gain skills and knowledge because those things can be worth more than what I have.

Quote 4 (page 42 section 7): Like a veil, like a thin mist, weariness descended upon Siddhartha, slowly, every day a little denser, every month a little more opaque, every year a little bit heavier.

I think that this quote means that the more time he spent on material objects and desires, the more he lost himself. I think that this quote was also saying the longer that you give into temptation, the harder it will be to stop giving into your desires and do what you are called to do. I believe that by remembering this quote I can try to remember to never forget who I am and what I believe in. I also think that by using this quote in my daily life I can make good decisions that will help make other choices and problems easier to deal with.

Quote 5 (page 45 section 7): “Onward! Onward! You have a calling!” He had heard that voice when he left home and chosen a samana’s life, and again when he had departed from the samanas and gone to the Perfect One, when he had departed from him and gone into the unknown. How long had it been since he had heard that voice, how long since he had scaled any heights; how evenly and monotonously his journey had gone on, many long years without a lofty goal, knowing no thirst or elevation of sprit, contented with petty pleasures and yet never satisfied.

I think that this quote means that when he was learning he had a calling, but when he gave in to desires he no longer felt the same calling that he had once felt. I think that it also means that once you lose who you are in wants and desires you are no longer who you were without them. I can apply this quote to my life by using it to remember to balance my desires and what I need to feel that I have a calling. I believe that I can also use this in my life to remember to spend time making sure my life is on the right path, and if not spending time getting myself back on the right track.

Quote 6 (page 74 section 11): “When someone seeks,” Siddhartha said, “it is all too easy for his eyes to see nothing but the thing he seeks, so that he is unable to find anything or to absorb anything because he is always thinking exclusively about what he seeks, because he has a goal, because he is obsessed by that goal. Seeking means having a goal. But finding means being free.”

I think that Siddhartha meant that when someone is looking for something they are too focused on one certain thing that they completely forget about everything else and often miss what they were searching for the whole time. I also think that it means that if you don’t keep an open mind, you will miss a lot of different opinions and a lot more knowledge. I think that I can apply this to my life by using it to remember to keep an open mind and never seek a certain thing, so that I will never miss anything if I can help it.