“Deception makes humans wiser than fairy tales do.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
- He became a representative figure of postwar Japanese literature, and was highly acclaimed both at home and abroad. He pursued his own unique aesthetic with themes of beauty and death, and ultimately committed seppuku at a Self-Defense Forces garrison. His life, which combined literature with action, continues to have a strong influence today.
Japanese
「欺瞞のほうがお伽噺よりも、人間を賢くするものだ」
English
“Deception makes humans wiser than fairy tales do.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima suggests that deception—a form of dishonesty or falsehood—teaches people more about the world and human nature than fairy tales, which are typically viewed as idealized or fantastical stories. Mishima seems to argue that while fairy tales offer comforting moral lessons and simplified visions of good and evil, they fail to capture the complexities of human behavior and the realities of life. On the other hand, deception forces individuals to confront the hidden truths, manipulations, and moral ambiguities of the world, thereby making them wiser in understanding the true nature of human relationships and society. In essence, Mishima claims that experiencing or encountering deception reveals more about the complexity and harshness of reality than the idealistic narratives found in fairy tales.
Mishima’s statement reflects his often cynical view of human nature and the moral complexities of life. He believed that the world was filled with ambiguity, and that individuals who were exposed to deception, as unpleasant as it may be, gained a deeper understanding of the selfish and strategic sides of human behavior. Fairy tales, by contrast, tend to provide simplified portrayals of life that offer moral clarity, but rarely address the nuances of how humans interact with each other in the real world. Mishima’s perspective suggests that the wisdom gained through deception comes not from moral purity or idealism, but from the recognition of the complexities and contradictions of human existence.
In a modern context, this quote can be interpreted as a critique of idealized narratives and the simplification of morality in both literature and society. Today, the idea that deception teaches more about reality than fairy tales could apply to how individuals navigate social complexities, political maneuvering, and personal relationships in a world that often demands pragmatic and strategic thinking over idealism. Mishima’s words remind us that while fairy tales offer comfort and moral clarity, the real world requires an understanding of complex motivations, manipulation, and self-interest. In this sense, deception becomes a tool for learning and adapting to the pragmatic realities of human life.
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