“When we make life our own, we forget curiosity, fear, surprise, and joy.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「われわれは人生を自分のものにしてしまうと、好奇心も恐怖もおどろきも喜びも忘れてしまう。」
English
“When we make life our own, we forget curiosity, fear, surprise, and joy.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima reflects on how the process of possessing or dominating life leads to the loss of the emotional richness that once accompanied it. When we believe we have conquered or fully understood life, we become immune to the feelings of curiosity, fear, surprise, and joy that are essential to our experience of the world. These emotions are the spontaneous responses to the uncertainties and mysteries of existence, and when we think we have life figured out, we stop engaging with the world in these fresh, unguarded ways.
Mishima’s words suggest that in seeking control or certainty over life, we risk losing the vibrancy and wonder that come with not knowing or being open to new experiences. The pursuit of mastery over one’s existence may lead to a narrowing of perspective, where the mysteries and beauty of life are replaced with a stale sense of possession. Without fear or curiosity, life becomes predictable and mundane, stripping away the emotion and depth that make living feel dynamic.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words could apply to how people, in their efforts to achieve security or success, may become apathetic or disconnected from the spontaneous joys of life. This critique speaks to the cost of seeking too much control—we may lose the very emotions that make us feel alive. Mishima is suggesting that engaging with life as an ongoing mystery, without the assumption of having it completely figured out, allows us to experience it with the same wonder and intensity as in our youth.
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