Why Our Greatest Strengths Are Often the Quietest
Humans are often hailed as the most intelligent species on Earth—and rightly so. Our brains have unlocked civilizations, art, science, and space exploration. But in our chase for louder, flashier milestones, we often overlook the quieter superpowers that truly set us apart. The ability to pause, reflect, endure, and choose intention over impulse—these are the silent strengths that carry people through chaos.
Recently, I found myself intrigued by a powerful line from Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha—a timeless masterpiece in its own right:
“I can think, I can wait, I can fast.”
Siddhartha’s Journey to Inner Strength
Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha follows the inner journey of a young Brahmin who rejects tradition, wealth, and inherited beliefs in search of something deeper—an unfiltered experience of the self. He leaves behind the comforts of ritual life and dives into extremes: asceticism, philosophical debate, even sensual indulgence. None of it brings lasting peace. Siddhartha’s path is winding, filled with disillusionment, solitude, and quiet awakenings. What sets him apart is his refusal to accept secondhand truth—he wants to live it, not just learn it.
Walking Away from Even the Buddha
At one point, Siddhartha even meets the historical Buddha—Gautama himself. He listens, respects, and admires the Enlightened One, but still chooses to walk his own path. Why? Because even the wisest teacher cannot hand over wisdom; it must be discovered through direct experience. This conviction leads Siddhartha to the city, where he encounters Kamala, a courtesan who introduces him to love and pleasure, and eventually to Kamaswami, a wealthy merchant. When asked what useful skills he brings to the business, Siddhartha answers simply: “I can think. I can wait. I can fast.” To others, it sounds like nothing. But in truth, it reveals everything—inner strength, clarity, and a mind anchored in self-mastery.
I Can Think: The Mind as Our Superpower
Siddhartha possesses clarity of mind when he says this. He is not impulsive. He can analyze, reflect, and make wise decisions. He is not easily swayed by emotions or external chaos.
Each of us possess a gift unlike any other—a mind that dares to think in ways no one else can. Humans believe in ancient myths, breathe life into fantasies, and stretch our imagination to touch the edges of the impossible. I’ve explored these ideas before, but they’re worth revisiting, because they reveal something profound about the human experience.
Ours is a species that simply doesn’t react to reality—we reinvent it. Humankind can sit in stillness, untethered from the present, and conjure entire worlds that don’t yet exist. We draft the future in the theater of our minds, building ideas from nothing but thought. That’s the quiet superpower of the human brain.
Sure, other species might strategize, solve problems, or even plan—but uniquely humans seem capable of obsessing over the very act of thinking itself. We don’t just think—we wonder what to think about, how to think better, and whether our thoughts mean anything at all. That kind of recursive curiosity, that meta-awareness, might just be uniquely human.
I Can Wait: The Power of Patience in a Restless World
Three simple words—but they carry quiet strength. Siddhartha has cultivated patience. Unlike many who rush toward goals or panic in uncertainty, he can endure long periods without immediate gratification. He trusts in the rhythm of life and time.
In a world of instant gratification, where speed is everything, the ability to wait has become rare. Yet throughout history, patience has not only shaped civilizations—it has shaped people.
It wasn’t easy. Our ancestors didn’t naturally delay hunger or desire. But over time, they learned to pause, to plan, to wait for the right moment. They saw that crops take time, that trust grows slowly, and that some things are only earned with patience. Nature favored those who could resist the now for the sake of later.
Waiting became a survival tool—a quiet advantage passed through generations. It allowed us to build ideas and futures that reached beyond the present moment.
“I can wait” is more than a statement. It’s a choice. A refusal to be ruled by impulse. A sign of discipline. In a world that races forward, maybe it’s the ones who wait who truly move time.
I Can Fast: Discipline as a Path to Presence
Literally, this refers to Siddhartha’s ability to go without food, a skill learned during his ascetic life. Symbolically, it points to his self-discipline and detachment. Here he doesn’t depend on wealth, pleasure, or external comfort to maintain his sense of self.
For me, it has never been easy. But something shifted after I listened to Lex Friedman’s conversation with Narendra Modi.
Lex fasted for 48 hours before interviewing someone he deeply admires. Not for health reasons, not for show—but to be fully present. He said his senses feel heightened, his mind clearer. That moment made me pause.
Fasting has always been part of Hindu culture—woven into rituals, reflection, and renewal. But here was a modern, intentional version of it. A kind of reverence through restraint. And I realized—fasting isn’t just about food. It’s about discipline.
Anyone can fast with the body—to reset, to listen to its silence.
Humans can fast digitally—by putting the phone away and reclaiming our attention.
Each of us can even fast mentally—by stepping back from distractions, noise, and our own constant inner chatter.
Any one of these is hard. But doing them on purpose, with clarity and choice?
That’s the wonder of being human. We can fast. And while it may not be easy, it’s deeply possible.
Conclusion: Stillness is Strength
This book reminded me that the possibilities of human potential are truly infinite—if people learn to embrace the quiet superpowers already within us. Siddhartha—Siddh (accomplished) + Artha (meaning or purpose)—has taught me to look at reality without judgment, with stillness and clarity. It’s not merely a story. It’s a mirror. It asks us to think, to wait, to fast—not just as acts of discipline, but as doorways to deeper understanding.
What are your thoughts? Have you ever felt these superpowers at work in your own life?
