“Maintaining the status quo is always an ugly thought, while destroying the status quo is always a hungry, impoverished thought.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「現状維持というのは、つねに醜悪な思想であり、また、現状破壊というのは、つねに飢え渇いた貧しい思想である」
English
“Maintaining the status quo is always an ugly thought, while destroying the status quo is always a hungry, impoverished thought.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima contrasts two opposing mindsets: maintaining the status quo and destroying it. He asserts that the desire to maintain the current state—to preserve things as they are—is ugly, because it reflects a lack of ambition or a refusal to engage with the potential for change. This conservatism, in Mishima’s view, is a stagnant way of thinking, one that is resistant to the dynamism of life and the possibilities for growth or improvement. On the other hand, Mishima suggests that the impulse to destroy the current state, while often seen as revolutionary or liberating, is, in its essence, a hungry, impoverished thought. It reflects a lack—a sense of desperation or void that drives one to break things down without offering a constructive or meaningful vision of what could replace it.
Mishima’s exploration of these two approaches to the status quo highlights his belief in the importance of balance and vision in action. He seems to suggest that both preserving the old and destroying it blindly are insufficient solutions. Maintaining the status quo may prevent necessary progress, but destroying everything in the name of change can lead to chaos and destruction without any real improvement. The key is not merely to hold onto or to tear down the old, but to engage with the world in a way that creates something better, which requires vision, purpose, and constructive action.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words can be interpreted as a critique of both complacency and radicalism in today’s society. On one hand, there are those who cling to the status quo, often out of a fear of change or a sense of comfort in tradition, without considering the potential for growth. On the other hand, there are those who advocate for complete disruption of the existing systems, driven by a sense of frustration or disillusionment, without offering alternative solutions or a meaningful vision for the future. Mishima’s message encourages us to critically assess the motives behind both conservatism and radicalism, urging us to move beyond these extremes and engage in actions that are purposeful, constructive, and ultimately transformative in a way that leads to genuine progress.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
