Kokoro Natsume Soseki Quotes

I believe that words uttered in passion contain a greater living truth than do those words which express thoughts rationally conceived. It is blood that moves the body. Words are not meant to stir the air only: they are capable of moving greater things.

You seem to be under the impression that there is a special breed of bad humans. There is no such thing as a stereotype bad man in this world. Under normal conditions, everybody is more or less good, or, at least, ordinary. But tempt them, and they may suddenly change. That is what is so frightening about men.

You see, loneliness is the price we have to pay for being born in this modern age, so full of freedom, independence, and our own egoistical selves.

Like the first whiff of burning incense, or like the taste of one's first cup of saké, there is in love that moment when all its power is felt.

To tell you the truth, I used to consider it a disgrace to be found ignorant by other people. But now, I find that I am not ashamed of knowing less than others, and I'm less inclined to force myself to read books. In short, I have grown old and decrepit.

I often laughed, and you often gave me a dissatisfied look, till you pressed me to unfold my past before you as if it were a roll of pictures. It was then I felt respect for you. Because you unreservedly showed me your resolution to catch something alive in my being, and to sip the warm blood running in my body, by cutting my heart. At that time, I was still living, and did not want to die. So I rejected your request, promising to satisfy you some day. Now I am going to destroy my heart myself, and pour my blood into your veins. I shall be happy if a new life can enter into your bosom, when my heart has stopped beating.

What would you do," I said, "if I pushed you into the sea?" K did not move. Without looking back, he said: "That would be pleasant. Please do.

Sometimes when I can no longer endure the strain, I beg him to tell me what is wrong with me and help me to correct it. Then he always says that I have nothing to correct, assuring me that it is he who is at fault. And I become sadder and sadder until I weep with the desire to know my fault.

I believe that words uttered in passion contain a greater living truth than those words which express thoughts rationally conceived

We who are born into this age of freedom and independence and the self must undergo this loneliness. It is the price we pay for these times of ours.

Who are we to judge the needs of another man’s heart?

At the same time, I began to walk about the streets discontentedly, and to look around my room with a feeling that something was lacking in my life

I don't even trust myself. And not trusting myself, I can hardly trust others. There is nothing that I can do, except curse my own soul.

She found a book report and read it. It was on Kokoro, a novel by Soseki Natsume, that summer’s reading assignment.

You are like a man in a fever. When that fever passes, your enthusiasm will turn to disgust. Your present opinion of me makes me unhappy enough. But when I think of the disillusionment that is to come, I feel even greater sorrow.

But I believe that a commonplace idea stated with passionate conviction carries more living truth than some novel observation expressed with cool indifference. It is the force of blood that drives the body, after all. Words are not just vibrations in the air, they work more powerfully than that, on more powerful objects.

Kokoro, a remarkable novel by Natsume Soseki,

I was thinking a lot about loneliness, because we were now reading Kokoro, a remarkable novel by Natsume Soseki, which was published in 1914 and was one of fourteen novels Soseki wrote after retiring from a professorship at Tokyo’s Imperial University. It was a book I’d read once before, in college, when I’d taken a course from its translator, Edwin McClellan. I’d been struck by Soseki’s exploration of the complex nature of friendship, especially among people who aren’t equals, in this case a student and his teacher. I wanted Mom to read it, and to read it again myself. When we talked about the novel, we discovered that we both had been startled by the same quote, an explanation of loneliness the teacher tells to the young man. The teacher says: “Loneliness is the price we have to pay for being born in this modern world, so full of freedom, independence and our own egotistical selves.

Sensei’s love story also had a tragic side, one that his wife knew nothing about. Sensei kept this secret until his death, destroying his own life before harming hers.

You just mocked that couple, but your mockery sounded like frustration from wanting love but not finding it.” “Did it really sound that way?” “Yes. Someone who’s satisfied with love speaks more warmly.

I was gripped by the thought that I had made a terrible mistake. A dark realization that there was no turning back pierced my future, illuminating my entire life ahead in a terrifying light.

You mentioned that there’s no one particularly bad among your relatives. But do you believe there are inherently bad people in this world? No one is born a villain. Everyone appears to be good or at least normal until a crucial moment reveals their true nature. That’s what makes people so frightening.

I was a fool who slipped while intending to walk the path of honesty.

Sensei’s seemingly cold remarks and actions were not meant to push me away, but rather a warning that he wasn’t worth getting close to.

I am a solitary person with almost no social engagements. Thus, duties are sparse around me. Whether intentionally or naturally, I have trimmed my life to avoid them. However, it is not due to indifference towards duty. On the contrary, I am too sensitive to endure the stimulus. Consequently, I lead a passive existence.