A feeling of liberation should contain a bracing feeling of negation, in which liberation itself is not negated. In the moment a captive lion steps out of his cage, he possesses a wider world than the lion who has known only the wilds. While he was in captivity, there were only two worlds to him; the world of the cage, and the world outside the cage. Now he is free. He roars. He attacks people. He eats them. yet he is not satisfied, for there is no third world that is neither the world of the cage nor the world outside the cage. Etsuko however, had in her heart not the slightest interest in these matters. Her soul knew nothing but affirmation.

~ Yukio Mishima

Yukio Mishima Classics Existence Freedom Japan Japanese Japanese Classics Japanese Lit Japanese Literature Mishima Thirst For Love Yukio Mishima

For everything sacred has the substance of dreams and memories, and so we experience the miracle of what is separated from us by time or distance suddenly being made tangible.

~ Yukio Mishima

Yukio Mishima Culture Fiction Inspirational Japan Japanese Life Literature Quote Yukio Mishima

Might it have been nothing but life itself? Life; this limitless complex sea, filled with assorted flotsam, brimming with capricious, violent, and yet eternally transparent blues and greens.

~ Yukio Mishima

Yukio Mishima Existence Existential Japanese Japanese Classics Japanese Lit Japanese Literature Mishima Yukio Mishima

We are not wounded so deeply when betrayed by the things we hope for as when betrayed by things we try our best to despise.In such betrayal comes the dagger in the back.

~ Yukio Mishima

Yukio Mishima Betrayal Thirst For Love Yukio Mishima