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.
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Quotes from literary masters. Messages from authors who weave captivating works (1–10)
Laughed at, laughed at, I grow stronger.Osamu Dazai
Osamu Dazai, a leading figure in Japanese literature known for works that depict human frailty, loneliness, and inner conflict.
Through numerous writings such as No Longer Human and The Setting Sun, he conveys the importance of not fearing failure or criticism, but accepting them as a path to growth.
Each time we are criticized or go through painful experiences, his works teach us to face ourselves and become stronger.
The depth of this message comes through both in his characters and his authorial voice.
These are words that can give people confronting setbacks and challenges the spark to change themselves.
Do not seek to borrow another’s light to magnify your own.Ogai Mori
There’s a proverb, “a fox that borrows the tiger’s authority,” and this saying reminds us once again that we must not become like that.
The speaker is the novelist Mori Ōgai, known as the author of The Dancing Girl.
“Another’s light,” that is, relying on someone else’s power or ability, should not be used to “increase one’s own light,” to make oneself look better.
If you want to promote yourself, you must do so on your own merits.
It’s obvious, but it’s an important truth we mustn’t forget.
Life is too long to do nothing, but too short to accomplish something.Atsushi Nakajima
Many of us have probably felt that a day spent idly doing nothing and a day spent fully enjoying what we love can feel like time flows at different speeds, even though both are the same 24 hours.
The writer Atsushi Nakajima, known as the author of “The Moon over the Mountain,” put this feeling into words.
He said that life is too long if you accomplish nothing, and too short if you aim to accomplish something.
When you set goals for what you want to do and work toward them, you’ll likely find more and more things you need to take on.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live such a fulfilling life that passes by in the blink of an eye?
Those who lack mental ambition are fools.Soseki Natsume
This is a line spoken by K, the friend of the teacher in the novel Kokoro, which the teacher later says to K as well.
K was such a diligent man that he believed a spirit of self-improvement meant maintaining a willingness to keep learning, and that anyone who didn’t was a fool.
However, he fell in love with a certain woman, was troubled by it, and confessed it to the teacher—changing their relationship and sending the story in an unexpected direction.
It’s a phrase that surely left a deep impression on many readers, carrying impact and meaning far beyond its literal wording—truly worthy of being called a famous quote.
Love is something noble, base, and pitiless.Higuchi Ichiyō
Higuchi Ichiyō, who was active as a novelist in the Meiji era, is known not only for works such as Takekurabe (Growing Up) but also for being featured on the 5,000-yen banknote.
These are words from that prolific woman writer, expressing her view of what love is.
While love is often spoken of as something noble and beautiful, she reminds us that it can sometimes take a degrading turn or end in a tragic outcome.
It’s a memorable quote that suggests that even as passion flares, it may be important to keep a cool, clear-eyed perspective so things don’t head in a bad direction.
Life is like a box of matches. It’s absurd to treat it too seriously, yet dangerous not to treat it seriously.Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
Ryunosuke Akutagawa, who sharply depicted the essence of society and the human psyche, is a figure remembered in Japanese literature for short stories such as Rashomon.
While teaching that in life there is no need to overthink or overinterpret, he also conveys the importance of approaching things with caution at times.
Many of his works portray how small events in life can have profound consequences, and his insights offer readers a perspective for reexamining their own actions and choices.
Even today, his lessons remain an enduring message that resonates with people’s hearts.
There are no solutions in life. What exists in life is only a force in motion. We have to create that force. The solutions will follow afterward.Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the novelist who wrote The Little Prince, a work loved around the world.
Here is a passage from one of his masterpieces, Night Flight.
Life never goes backward.
As we keep moving forward, we must overcome many things.
However, moving forward requires effort.
He tells us that as we proceed through life by trial and error, we can find solutions to each of our problems.
If you’re troubled and have come to a standstill, try, above all, to take a step forward.
Love is the wafer that wraps much of life’s suffering.Doppo Kunikida
Doppo Kunikida, who was active not only as a novelist but also as a journalist, is also known for having founded the magazine Fujin Gahō (Ladies’ Graphic).
These are words left by a person devoted to conveying through writing, expressing how gentle love can be.
They tell us that with love, the sufferings of life are eased, and that it is precisely our feelings of love that give us the strength to overcome hardships.
While conveying a tenderness that envelops pain, it also gives the impression of depicting the risk of becoming numb to that pain.
Life is something you create. There is no such thing as an inevitable form.Ango Sakaguchi
Ango Sakaguchi, known for his essays and novels such as “On Decadence” and “In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom,” made his mark on modern Japanese literature in the postwar period, releasing many works with a keen critical spirit and a free-thinking mind.
These words convey the power of will to shape one’s life with one’s own hands rather than living passively.
They reflect his authorship, which repeatedly portrays the theme that breaking through tradition and fixed ideas—and making free choices—forms the essence of being human.
It is a memorable saying that emphasizes the importance of valuing one’s own convictions without being bound by established ways.
It’s a mistake to think that the same time is flowing for everyone.Yasunari Kawabata
Yasunari Kawabata, the first Japanese recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, was a writer who depicted traditional Japanese beauty and the movements of emotion.
His words suggest the importance of understanding that time and perception differ from person to person and of respecting others.
In his works, he delicately portrays characters experiencing different values and senses of time.
His message teaches us that accepting differences with others can provide opportunities to gain new perspectives.
These words will resonate with people today as a hint for understanding diversity and deepening empathy.