“Among all types of boasting, there is none more harmless than boasting about one’s fighting skills.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「およそ自慢のなかで、喧嘩自慢ほど罪のないものはない」
English
“Among all types of boasting, there is none more harmless than boasting about one’s fighting skills.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima suggests that boasting about one’s ability to fight—commonly referred to as “boasting about one’s fighting skills”—is one of the least harmful forms of pride or self-promotion. Unlike boasting about wealth, status, or power, which can have more significant social and moral consequences, fighting bragging is viewed as relatively innocuous or even childish. Mishima is drawing attention to the uncomplicated nature of fighting as a boast. Physical strength or fighting prowess, in this sense, is a primitive form of pride, one that carries no inherent malice or social harm, as it is often confined to the realm of individual prowess rather than broader, more impactful social dynamics.
This view aligns with Mishima’s broader views on masculinity and honor, where the concept of fighting was a key aspect of traditional male virtue. In Mishima’s time, physical combat and self-defense were often viewed as expressions of masculine strength and courage, qualities that were sometimes more innocently celebrated than other forms of social ambition. Mishima’s comment could reflect his own view of fighting as something that, though primitive or unrefined, is less morally problematic than more calculated forms of boasting related to money, power, or influence.
In a modern context, this quote might still hold relevance in conversations around pride and ego. While boasting about one’s physical prowess might seem harmless in comparison to the more destructive forms of pride, it still speaks to the underlying human desire to establish personal identity. In contemporary culture, the boast about fighting could be seen as a symbolic assertion of strength, especially in a world where people may feel disconnected from traditional measures of masculinity. Mishima’s insight highlights the innocence of this particular boast, suggesting that it is a more direct and less manipulative way of asserting oneself compared to the complex, often morally ambiguous boasts about status or wealth.
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