Quotations from literary masters: messages from authors who weave captivating works.

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

The literary masters who have created countless works that captivate readers’ hearts.

Adept at wielding words, they left behind many memorable sayings beyond their writings.

In this article, we introduce famous quotes spoken by these literary giants.

We’ve selected words from a variety of authors—those whose works have had a profound impact on people, those whose writings appear in school textbooks, and even those depicted as characters in manga.

Please enjoy this world of words spun by great writers—a realm distinct from their works themselves.

Quotes from literary masters. Messages from authors who weave captivating works (21–30)

Almost every person has, at least once in their lifetime, a splendid period that befits them.Jun'ichirō Tanizaki

For those who feel nothing they do goes well, these words can inspire hope.

They are by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, the novelist known for his distinctive style in works like Naomi and The Makioka Sisters.

The idea that everyone has at least one moment in life when they shine gives us strength to live.

If we can think, “I’m working hard now for that brilliant moment that will come someday,” it might make our daily efforts a little easier.

Imagining what kind of future self awaits you should bring an even more joyful feeling!

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SAKI

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I don’t believe because I have reason to; I believe because I want to.Futabatei Shimei

Futabatei Shimei, who was active not only as a novelist but also as a translator, is known not only for major works like Ukigumo (Floating Clouds) but also for his translations and critiques.

This is a famous quote by that great man of letters, well-versed in foreign literature, speaking about what it means to believe.

It powerfully conveys that the feeling of believing does not arise from constructing reasons, but from the emotion of wanting to believe.

It tells us that what matters first is to follow our own feelings and believe; if we start from reasons, it can make believing itself more difficult.

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kappamaki

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Artists are not born every day, so we must not treat them carelessly.Masuji Ibuse

Masuji Ibuse, known for works such as “The Salamander” and “Black Rain,” is a writer who represents postwar Japanese literature.

He conveys the importance of recognizing the rarity of artists, respecting them, and supporting their creative endeavors.

Precisely because these are the words of someone who left many distinctive works probing the essence of humanity, they carry great persuasive power.

By depicting the tragedies of war and the inner conflicts of people in depth, he left a strong impression on readers.

This message is a memorable saying that calls on us to reexamine the value of creation and to cherish artists in order to enrich society through art.

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mutō

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God gave humans loneliness, and at the same time, He also gave them a nature that cannot remain lonely.Haruo Sato

Haruo Satō, a poet and novelist who left behind numerous works such as the novel “Melancholy of the Countryside” and the poem “Song of the Pacific Saury,” spoke about humanity and loneliness in words that are profoundly insightful and seem to probe the essence of being human.

In life, there is no such thing as never feeling lonely.

Even so, we cannot live entirely on our own.

Perhaps his words are telling us that life is about carrying our loneliness while supporting one another and, at times, loving one another as we go on living.

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SAKI

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The foremost condition for a person’s happiness is peace within the home. And what is peace within the home? Nothing other than husband and wife loving each other deeply.Koyo Ozaki

In addition to leaving works such as “Two Nun Disciples’ Confession of Passion” and “Kyara Makura” as a novelist, Ozaki Kōyō was also active as a haiku poet.

These are words left by this great Meiji-era literary master that express his view on what is most important among human happiness.

He says that above all, it is essential for the household to be peaceful; if there is deep love between husband and wife, one can walk through life happily.

From words like these, we can also sense that when the home is peaceful and happy, it naturally fosters a positive outlook.

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kappamaki

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People who have achieved great success tend to blame themselves rather than others for failures.Rohan Kōda

Rohan Koda, who was active as a novelist from the Meiji through the Showa era, is known for representative works such as “The Five-Storied Pagoda” and “Fate.” These are words from a great literary master, remembered as a leading figure of modern literature, about how successful people face failure.

We may want to blame someone else for our failures, but he says that those who can accept failure as their own and turn it into reflection and learning are the ones who can seize success.

It suggests that failure isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it may in fact be essential for gaining lessons for the future.

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kappamaki

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One must live. To live, one must fight. One must make a name for oneself. One must earn money. One must stake one’s life on the decisive contest.Roka Tokutomi

Tokutomi Roka was an author active mainly during the Meiji era who left behind a wide range of works—not only novels but also essays and translations.

These words, by a great literary figure who committed even his ideas and way of life to writing, present his view of what it means to live.

He says that living is not merely the passage of time; rather, it is the very act of pressing forward with all one’s might in pursuit of wealth or fame that constitutes being truly alive.

This statement seems likely to prompt reflection on whether we are facing our lives earnestly and whether we are truly living in the fullest sense—offering an opportunity to reconsider the paths we have taken and the way we will proceed from here.

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kappamaki

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