I live in my dreams — that's what you sense. Other people live in dreams, but not in their own. That's the difference.

There is truth, my boy. But the doctrine you desire, absolute, perfect dogma that alone provides wisdom, does not exist. Nor should you long for a perfect doctrine, my friend. Rather, you should long for the perfection of yourself. The deity is within you, not in ideas and books. Truth is lived, not taught.

Each man's life represents a road toward himself, an attempt at such a road, the intimation of a path. No man has ever been entirely and completely himself.

Life is waiting everywhere, the future is flowering everywhere, but we only see a small part of it and step on much of it with our feet

Opinions mean nothing; they may be beautiful or ugly, clever or foolish, anyone can embrace or reject them.

If man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do. If, for instance, Siddhartha had not learned to fast, he would have had to seek some kind of work today, either with you, or elsewhere, for hunger would have driven him. But as it is, Siddhartha can wait calmly. He is not impatient, he is not in need, he can ward off hunger for a long time and laugh at it. Therefore, fasting is useful, sir.

That life is difficult, I have often bitterly realized.