“A woman drags all values down into the mire of sensitivity.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「女はあらゆる価値を感性の泥沼に引きずり下ろしてしまう」
English
“A woman drags all values down into the mire of sensitivity.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima expresses a cynical view of the way women’s emotionality and sensitivity can influence or even corrupt what are typically considered objective or rational values. He suggests that women, through their emotional depth or sensibility, have the power to distort or undermine the purity of values, reducing them to something subjective or emotionally driven. The metaphor of the “mire of sensitivity” implies that women’s emotional influence, though deeply felt, can lead to a muddling of higher ideals, turning them from absolute or universal concepts into something relative and emotionally entangled.
Mishima’s perspective reflects his broader views on emotions, particularly as they relate to gender dynamics. In his works, he often associated emotional vulnerability or sensitivity with weakness or instability, especially in the context of masculinity. He believed that men, in particular, should strive for discipline and rationality, rather than giving in to emotions that could lead them away from their ideals. By portraying women as being able to drag values into a “mire”, Mishima emphasizes the danger he saw in emotional influence—especially when it came to shaping society or morality.
In a modern context, this quote may be seen as a reflection on how emotional influences are often perceived in society, particularly regarding gender roles. Today, emotional sensitivity is often viewed more positively, especially in women’s emotional expression. However, Mishima’s words serve as a critique of the idea that emotions can sometimes overshadow reasoned decision-making or moral values, suggesting that too much emotional involvement can be detrimental to the preservation of objective ideals. While his view is dated and problematic in the context of modern discussions about gender equality and the value of emotional intelligence, it still speaks to the age-old tension between rationality and emotion, and how gendered expectations have historically shaped our understanding of these traits.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
