Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time.

A German novelist and poet, Hermann Hesse often focused on the unique spirit and identity each of us can cultivate outside of cultural norms. This may have been influenced by his own schooling: Hesse attended a traditional seminary for less than a year before transitioning to more informal apprenticeships in factories and bookstores. His writing, much of which explored artistic introspection and the search for enlightenment, became very popular around the time of World War II, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1946. This quote comes from arguably his most famous novel, “Siddhartha,” which follows the titular character’s journey to self-discovery and spiritual fulfillment. Siddhartha points out that when we’re overwhelmed, we can always return to our own instincts and foundations. If we can find an internal place of quiet and listen to ourselves, we might find more answers than we expect.