Haruki Murakami is a top author who has given us so many meaningful quotes. These can inspire us to live better lives or even to become authors ourselves. Easily one of the most iconic writers in the world, Murakami has consistently defined a generation, and while his stories are not always the most cheerful of adventures, they never fail to touch us deep within our cores.
Throughout his career, Murakami has treated us to some sentences that you just know will stand the test of time, and today, we’re going to explore of the best. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into the top quotes and what they mean.
1. Interview with The Paris Review
“I think that my job is to observe people and the world, and not to judge them. I always hope to position myself away from so-called conclusions. I would like to leave everything wide open to all the possibilities in the world.”
This quote is inspiring because it helps us be more open-minded about people and situations that we encounter. It’s important to observe things around us before jumping in with a judgment about the situation.
Whether this refers to people, their intentions, or any situation we find ourselves in, being open to the possibilities that we don’t actually know everything and won’t get things right the first time is a fantastic way to look at life that can bring so many benefits to our being.
2. South of the Border, West of the Sun
“Sometimes when I look at you, I feel I’m gazing at a distant star.
It’s dazzling, but the light is from tens of thousands of years ago.
Maybe the star doesn’t even exist any more. Yet sometimes that light seems more real to me than anything.”
This quote is absolutely heartbreaking and reinforces the reality that all the stars and bright lights that we see in the night sky are possibly all gone now because the light takes so long to reach us.
However, these points of light, and brightness in our lives, are what’s most real and most dependable than anything else. “Being able to look up at the sky with a state of wonder; to be left in awe by the raw opportunity of being that life has given to us, and the ability to feel so much over something so small yet so massive, truly is a miracle” says Sue Jones, a psychology writer at Simple grad and Eliteassignmenthelp.
3. Norwegian Wood
“I was always hungry for love. Just once, I wanted to know what it was like to get my fill of it—to be fed so much love I couldn’t take any more. Just once.”
This quote shows us that there can be consequences to wanting more and more love and to crave it to the point that it can damage us. There’s no denying that every human being just wants to be love, but sometimes, when we’ve been starved of it for so long, it can get past the feelings of love that add to whatever we already have going on in our lives, but instead becomes our primary obsession that consumes us as we try and consume it back.
4. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
“The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can’t be learned at school.”
This is a witty quote that shows the most important things in life aren’t the things you learn in school; it’s the things you learn outside of it, when you’re challenged and faced with difficult situations.
5. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
“I sometimes think that people’s hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what’s at the bottom. All you can do is imagine by what comes floating to the surface every once in a while.”
I love this quote because it reflects that we don’t truly know anyone else, only what they choose to show us or accidentally reveal. But in reality, people have hearts and souls that go on forever and we can feel lucky to get just a glimpse.
None of us really know or can even really be sure of anything that is going on in the lives of the others around us, whether they’re complete strangers or the people we care about more than anyone else in the world. The most important thing to remember is not to judge but take what you can see and appreciate the fact you get the chance to witness that part for yourself.
6. 1Q84
“That’s what the world is, after all: an endless battle of contrasting memories.”
In this quote, the author is explaining that the way we see the world is just through different perspective. We are taught via memories from people on opposite sides of history so there is no unique memory.
It’s actually amazing when you think about how unreliable our memories are. You can think back to many times in your life, and if you choose to add a detail and relive the memory over and over again in that way, then that part of your memory becomes fact. The only traces of the past to ever exist is the records we have in our minds.
7. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.”
This passage can teach us not to be afraid of death, but rather to see it as just a necessary part of life, another path we go down after our journey here is complete. So many of us live our day to day lives living with a fear of death. While we may attempt to live everyday as though it’s our last, the truth is that we never really truly die.
Sure, our physical bodies and our consciousness as we know it will cease to exist, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of us. Death is simply the part of us transitioning from one form of being to another. Death is the beginning of a new chapter, and a necessary part of this life.
8. After the Quake
“No matter how far you travel, you can never get away from yourself.”
Travel is not about escaping, the author says. You can travel the world but if you’re running away from something, you’ll realize it’ll always be inside of you. The experience of travel, like everything in life, should be used in such a way that it can educate you about yourself, can add to the experiences you have already going on in your life, or can help you see things from a new perspectives.
“Getting a fresh start isn’t a reset button and doesn’t take you back to a new square one. You’re still carrying on from where you left off. Pain is always carried within, not given by external sources” comments Frank Fabian, a blogger at Uktopwriters and Ukwritings.
9. 1Q84
“Life is not like water. Things in life don’t necessarily flow over the shortest possible route.”
Things in life aren’t always straightforward. Sometimes, the best things in life take a long time to get to, and you can go through a lot of detours before finally arriving where you need to be.
10. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
“You can hide memories, but you can’t erase the history that produced them.”
Although memories can fade or be ignored, the events that created those memories will still be there and will still have happened. That’s an important reality to face.
11. In a speech
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
Another insanely beautiful quote here that can be applied to any situation, event, or relationship you find yourself in, no matter how big or small it may be. As we go through life, we’re going to face things that will make our lives difficult. You may not be able to see a way out, and it’s going to feel as though you’re trapped and scared.
However, just like the positive parts of life, these storms will change who you are as a person and will define your perspective on the future. It’s all about being as mindful of this change as possible to ensure you’re making the best decisions for yourself in the future.
12. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
Another short but sweet quote now, that’s just as beautiful as it is precise. No matter what happens in your life, you’re going to feel pain and there are going to be difficult experiences. It cannot be avoided, and you can’t protect yourself from them happening.
But, while pain is always going to be a part of your existence, the suffering caused from this pain is your choice, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. Being able to let go of pain, being able to accept it, voice it, and allowing to breath can all bring so much joy and peace into your life.
Through acceptance of pain, and then coming to the realisation that pain is only caused by things that have happened in the past, rather than being caused in the present moment, you can live a very fulfilling and peaceful life.
13. Sputnik Sweetheart
“I dream. I think that’s the only right thing to do.”
This is one of those quotes that can be taken in so many ways, and while you may read it one day in one kind of mindset, reading it a different day in a different mindset can change its meaning completely. Maybe you’re dreaming because you want to escape the reality you’re in.
Perhaps you’re plagued by thoughts and feelings, so much so that the only right thing to do is to escape for a while, giving yourself room to breathe. On the other hand, what if you live a life where you do wrong and hurt people, whether that’s intentionally or not, and being able to dream is the only right thing you can do to protect those around you.
Of course, there’s also the positive side. While you may sometimes feel trapped in sadness or misery, being able to dream of a brighter, better tomorrow can sometimes be the only thing that will keep you going. Murakami really hit the nail on the head with this quote, and it’s easily one of his most profound and most exciting to dissect.
Ellie Coverdale is a writer for Australian help and Ox essays. She’s interested in education and writing, and loves creating a passion and joy in writing from a very young age. She is constantly seeking ways to push young people to be creative and to write, and also teaches writing skills for Paper Fellows.
