“Intuition is something that can only be nurtured through interactions with others. It was originally unrelated to imagination.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「直感というものは人との交渉によってしか養われぬものだった。それは本来想像力とは無縁のものだった。」
English
“Intuition is something that can only be nurtured through interactions with others. It was originally unrelated to imagination.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima emphasizes that intuition is shaped and developed through interactions with other people, rather than being purely an exercise of imagination. He distinguishes intuition from creativity or imaginative thought, suggesting that intuition is rooted in experience and practical understanding gained from engaging with the external world, particularly through relationships and social contexts. Intuition, for Mishima, is a real-time, immediate understanding that arises from the nuances of human interaction, not from abstract or speculative thinking. The quote highlights the concrete nature of intuition, contrasting it with the abstract nature of imagination, which is often seen as more speculative and detached from direct human experience.
Mishima’s perspective reflects his view of human interaction as central to developing a deeper understanding of the world. He suggests that intuition is a practical skill that emerges from observing and responding to the behaviors, emotions, and actions of others, rather than from the fantasies or creative visions of the mind. Intuition, in his framework, is grounded in real-world experience, where the ability to read people and situations is cultivated through direct communication and interaction.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words encourage reflection on the role of experience in shaping our intuitive abilities in today’s increasingly digital and isolated world. In a society where many interactions are mediated by technology or social platforms, the development of true intuition—the kind that comes from genuine human contact—might be at risk. Mishima’s quote reminds us that intuition, as a vital form of understanding, cannot be fully developed in isolation or through the abstract, but requires real, tangible engagement with the people around us. This challenges the modern notion of self-sufficiency and highlights the importance of social connections in cultivating deeper, more authentic insights into the world.
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