Wenn wir einen Menschen hassen, so hassen wir in seinem Bild etwas… — Hermann Hesse | Printable Wall Art

“Wenn wir einen Menschen hassen, so hassen wir in seinem Bild etwas, was in uns selber sitzt. Was nicht in uns selber ist, das regt uns nicht auf.”
“When we hate a person, we hate in their image something that dwells within ourselves. What is not within us does not disturb us.”

Words by Hermann Hesse (1877-1962) — German-Swiss novelist and poet.

About this quote

This line explores psychological projection. Hesse suggests that intense dislike of another person is often a mirror reflecting traits, fears, or desires we dislike or suppress within ourselves. What we truly do not possess or care about leaves us indifferent. Therefore, our emotional reactions to others reveal far more about our own inner world than about the people we judge.

It comes from Hermann Hesse's 1919 novel Demian, a coming-of-age story deeply influenced by Jungian psychology. The line is spoken by the character Pistorius, who guides the protagonist, Emil Sinclair, towards self-knowledge.

People often hang this in a personal study or bedroom to prompt daily self-reflection and mindfulness.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 18 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Tracked Caps Unsigned · Editorial Justified

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.