What matters is deciding in your heart to accept another person completely. When you do that, it is always the first time and the last. ― Haruki Murakami, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
“Poets give us insights into our world. Great poets give us insights into human life.” — Kenneth Yasuda in the foreword to H. Jay Harris’ translation of The Tales of Ise
I am nothing. You are right. I’m like someone who’s been thrown into the ocean at night, floating all alone. I reach out, but no one is there. I call out, but no one answers. I have no connection to anything. − Haruki Murakami, 1Q84
"You've always been fond of understanding people too well." "They should arrange not to be understood quite so easily." ― Yasunari Kawabata, Thousand Cranes
Generally, people who are good at writing letters have no need to write letters. They've got plenty of life to lead inside their own context. − Haruki Murakami, A Wild Sheep Chase