In life there are two things which are dependable. The pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of literature.

~ Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon Body Life Literature Pleasure

Pleasing things: finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed. But often it is a disappointment.

~ Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon Books Enjoyment Reading Stories

Sometimes a person who is utterly devoid of charm will try to create a good impression by using very elegant language, yet he only succeeds in being ridiculous.

~ Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon Language

I do wish men, when they're taking their leave from a lady at dawn, wouldn't insist on adjusting their clothes to a nicety, or fussily tying their lacquered cap securely into place. After all, who would laugh at a man or criticize him if they happened to catch sight of him on his way home from an assignation in fearful disarray, with his cloak or hunting costume all awry?

~ Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon Assignations Dawn Departures Heian Period Japanese Culture Lovers Palace Life Sexuality Social Norms

8. The Cat Who Lived in the PalaceThe cat who lived in the Palace had been awarded the head-dress of nobility and was called Lady Myobu.

~ Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon Cat Cats Court Empress Heian Heian Culture Heian Period Lady Palace

A palm-leaf carriage should move slowly, or else it loses its dignity.

~ Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon Carriage Dignity Heian

27. TreesI shall say absolutely nothing about the spindle tree.

~ Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon Spindle Tree Tree Trees