subdued fires

what you call passion is not spiritual force, but friction between the soul and the outside world. where passion dominates, that does not signify the presence of greater desire and ambition, but rather the misdirection of these qualitities towards an isolated and false goal, with a consequent tension and sultriness in the atmosphere. those who direct the maximum force of their desires toward the centre, toward true being, toward perfection, seem quieter than the passionate souls because the flame of their fervour cannot always be seen. in argument, for example, they will not shout and wave their arms. but i assure you, they are nevertheless burning with subdued fires.
~ Hermann Hesse, The Glass Bead Game