“To govern humans is simple; it is enough to control the inner void and emptiness within them.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「人間を統治するのは簡単なことで、人間の内部の虚無と空白を統括すればそれですむのだ。」
English
“To govern humans is simple; it is enough to control the inner void and emptiness within them.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima suggests that the key to governing or controlling human beings lies in manipulating their inner void—the emptiness, desire, or lack that resides within them. According to Mishima, people are inherently driven by a sense of unfulfilled longing or existential void, and those who understand this fundamental aspect of human nature can easily lead or manipulate them. This emptiness, or lack of purpose, drives people to seek meaning or fulfillment in various forms, whether through material possessions, power, or relationships. The governance of people, then, becomes a matter of controlling their desires, fears, and aspirations by offering them ways to fill this void or channel their unrest.
Mishima’s insight reflects his broader views on human nature and the psychology of power. He believed that humans are inherently vulnerable to manipulation because they are constantly searching for meaning and structure to fill the void inside them. By offering solutions, whether they are ideological, material, or political, those in positions of power can easily control and direct people’s energy. Mishima also touches on the idea that empty or meaningless lives can be manipulated more easily than those that are full of clear purpose or self-determination. This quote aligns with Mishima’s concern about modern society, where many people, in his view, had lost a sense of direction and were instead seeking superficial ways to fill their inner emptiness.
In a modern context, this quote resonates with the manipulation of desires in contemporary consumer culture. In today’s world, many individuals are constantly searching for fulfillment through products, entertainment, and ideologies that promise to fill the void Mishima speaks of. Governments, corporations, and ideologies often capitalize on this sense of emptiness by offering solutions that promise to provide meaning or purpose. Mishima’s words are a critique of how societies often operate by offering temporary fixes to people’s internal dissatisfaction, encouraging them to remain docile and manageable rather than addressing the root causes of their emptiness and lack of direction.
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