Fiction

Siddhartha

Hermann Hesse

Cover of Siddhartha
Siddhartha
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Fiction#fiction#wisdom

Siddhartha

Written byHermann Hesse

A short novel about a young man in ancient India who leaves his comfortable home to search for meaning. He lives as a wandering ascetic, meets the Buddha, gets lost in wealth and pleasure, and finally finds peace beside a river, learning that wisdom can't be taught, only lived.

  • Published1922
  • GenreFiction
  • Key ideas4
  • Summary1 min read

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  • want life lessons in small doses

The summary

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  1. 01Wisdom has to be lived

    Siddhartha learns that knowledge can be passed on, but wisdom only comes from experience.

  2. 02Find your own way

    He honours the Buddha's teaching but chooses to walk his own path.

  3. 03Every stage teaches

    Even his years of excess and regret become part of what makes him wise.

  4. 04Learn to listen

    The ferryman Vasudeva and the river teach him patience, listening and peace.

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Wisdom has to be lived

Siddhartha learns that knowledge can be passed on, but wisdom only comes from experience. Pick one small way to put this into practice before tonight.

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“You must find your dream, then the way becomes easy. But there is no dream that lasts forever, each dream is followed by another, and one should not cling to any particular one.”

— Hermann Hesse

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