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Steppenwolf

Book by Hermann Hesse · 3 quotes · Steppenwolf, Hermann Hesse, Hesse

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Steppenwolf Quotes

“But in the midst of the freedom he had attained Harry suddenly became aware that his freedom was a death and that he stood alone. The world in an uncanny fashion left him in peace. Other men concerned him no longer. He was not even concerned about himself. He began to suffocate slowly in the more and more rarefied atmosphere of remoteness and solitude. For now it was his wish no longer, nor his aim, to be alone and independent, but rather his lot and his sentence. The magic wish had been fulfilled and could not be cancelled, and it was no good now to open his arms with longing and goodwill to welcome the bonds of society. People left him alone now. It was not, however, that he was an object of hatred and repugnance. On the contrary, he had many friends. A great many people liked him. But it was no more than sympathy and friendliness. He received invitations, presents, pleasant letters; but no more. No one came near to him. There was on link left, and no one could have had any part in his life even had anyone wished it. For the air of lonely man surrounded him now, a still atmosphere in which the world around him slipped away, leaving him incapable of relationship, an atmosphere against which neither will nor longing availed.”

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Book:Steppenwolf
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“Lorsque enfin il se sentit absolument libre, Harry s'aperçut soudain que sa liberté était une mort, qu'il était resté seul, que le monde le laissait lugubrement tranquille, qu'il ne se souciait plus des hommes ni de lui-même, qu'il étouffait lentement dans une atmosphère toujours plus rare de vide et d'isolement. La solitude et l'indépendance avaient cessé d'être son désir pour devenir son sort et sa condamnation; le vœu magique était formulé et ne pouvait être repris; cela ne servait plus à rien de tendre les mains, d'être plein de désir et de bonne volonté, prêt à l'attachement et à la communauté : maintenant, on le laissait seul.”

SolitudeLibertéIndépendanceIsolement
Book:Steppenwolf
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