Osamu Dazai

Novelist

Osamu Dazai was a Japanese author known for his poignant exploration of alienation and despair, particularly in his novel 'No Longer Human.'

Born
June 19, 1909
Died
April 13, 1948
Quotes
56
Rank
#273

About Osamu Dazai

Osamu Dazai — Life and Legacy

Osamu Dazai, a prominent figure in Japanese literature, is best known for his exploration of alienation and despair, particularly in his seminal work 'No Longer Human.' His writing reflects a deep psychological insight into the human experience, often drawing from his own struggles with mental health and societal expectations. Dazai's worldview is characterized by a profound sense of disconnection, as illustrated in his quote, 'I want to be a human being,' which reveals his yearning for authenticity amidst overwhelming feelings of isolation. Dazai's narratives frequently delve into the darker aspects of existence, challenging societal norms and exposing the fragility of human emotions. His candid portrayal of suicide and despair resonates deeply with readers, as he articulates the complexities of identity and the human condition. Through his work, Dazai confronts the paradox of seeking connection while feeling perpetually estranged from society. Today, Dazai's quotes and themes continue to resonate, offering insight into the struggles of those grappling with mental health issues and the quest for belonging. His ability to articulate the nuances of despair and alienation ensures that his work remains relevant, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of isolation and the search for meaning.

Quote collection

Osamu Dazai quotes (page 1 of 3)

56 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Osamu Dazai Novelist
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"When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I was an idler. When I pretended I couldn't write a novel, people said I couldn't write. When I acted like a liar, they called me a liar. When I acted like a rich man, they started the rumor I was rich. When I feigned indifference, they classed me as the indifferent type. But when I inadvertently groaned because I was really in pain, they started the rumor that I was faking suffering. The world is out of joint."

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"I thought, “I want to die. I want to die more than ever before. There’s no chance now of a recovery. No matter what sort of thing I do, no matter what I do, it’s sure to be a failure, just a final coating applied to my shame. That dream of going on bicycles to see a waterfall framed in summer leaves—it was not for the likes of me. All that can happen now is that one foul, humiliating sin will be piled on another, and my sufferings will become only the more acute. I want to die. I must die. Living itself is the source of sin."

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"Now I have neither happiness nor unhappiness.Everything passes.That is the one and only thing that I have thought resembled a truth in the society of human beings where I have dwelled up to now as in a burning hell.Everything passes."

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"For someone like myself in whom the ability to trust others is so cracked and broken that I am wretchedly timid and am forever trying to read the expression on people's faces."

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"I am convinced that human life is filled with many pure, happy, serene examples of insincerity, truly splendid of their kind-of people deceiving one another without (strangely enough) any wounds being inflicted, of people who seem unaware even that they are deceiving one another."

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"As long as I can make them laugh, it doesn’t matter how, I’ll be alright. If I succeed in that, the human beings probably won’t mind it too much if I remain outside their lives. The one thing I must avoid is becoming offensive in their eyes: I shall be nothing, the wind, the sky."

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"The weak fear happiness itself. They can harm themselves on cotton wool. Sometimes they are wounded even by happiness"

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"I like roses best. But they bloom in all four seasons. I wonder if people who like roses best have to die four times over again."

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"Victims. Victims of a transitional period of morality. That is what we both certainly are."

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"But happiness is being able to hope, however faintly, for happiness. So, at least, we must believe if we are to live in the world of today."

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"Mine has been a life of much shame. I can't even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being."

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"To fall for," "to be fallen for"--I feel in these words something unspeakably vulgar, farcical, and at the same time extraordinarily complacent. Once these expressions put in an appearance, no matter how solemn the place, the silent cathedrals of melancholy crumble, leaving nothing but an impression of fatuousness. It is curious, but the cathedrals of melancholy are not necessarily demolished if one can replace the vulgar "What a messy business it is to be fallen for" by the more literary "What uneasiness lies in being loved."

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"All I feel are the assaults of apprehension and terror at the thought that I am the only one who is entirely unlike the rest. It is almost impossible for me to converse with other people. What should I talk about, how should I say it? - I don't know."

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"I drink out of desperation. Life is too dreary to endure. The misery, loneliness, crampedness - they're heartbreaking.[...] What feelings do you suppose a man has when he realizes that he will never know happiness or glory as long as he lives? Hard work. All that amounts to is food for the wild beasts of hunger."

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"I must go on living. And, though it may be childish of me, I can't go on in simple compliance. From now on I must struggle with the world. I thought that Mother might well be the last of those who can end their lives beautifully and sadly, struggling with no one, neither hating nor betraying anyone. In the world to come there will be no room for such people. The dying are beautiful, but to live, to survive – those things somehow seem hideous and contaminated with blood."

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"I want to spend my time with people who don't look to be respected. But such good people won't want to spend their time with me."

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