“From the standpoint of destiny, living was like being completely deceived.”
- 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
「生きるということは、運命の見地に立てば、まるきり詐欺にかけられているようなものだった」
English
“From the standpoint of destiny, living was like being completely deceived.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima presents a cynical view of life, suggesting that from the perspective of fate or destiny, human existence is akin to being caught in a deceptive scheme. The phrase “completely deceived” implies that life, with all its struggles, desires, and illusions, ultimately leads to disillusionment, as people are manipulated by forces beyond their control. Mishima often saw the human condition as being trapped between the illusion of free will and the harsh reality of inevitability, where life’s choices and outcomes are often shaped by fate or external forces. This deception may refer to how people are drawn into expectations and hopes that are ultimately unrealistic or futile in the face of their true circumstances.
Mishima’s work frequently explores themes of fatalism and the contradictions within human existence. He often depicted life as a series of struggles against forces—be they societal, internal, or external—that shape and ultimately control an individual’s fate. In this view, living becomes a performance, where people are led to believe in their ability to choose while, in fact, they are being deceived by the illusion of freedom. The idea that living is like a scam implies that human beings are constantly caught in the tension between their desires for meaning and the inevitability of death or uncontrollable outcomes.
In modern contexts, this quote may resonate with the existential and philosophical views that challenge the idea of free will in contemporary life. The rise of deterministic thinking—whether in terms of genetics, societal conditioning, or fate—leads some people to feel as though they are trapped in patterns they cannot escape, making life feel like a deception. It also speaks to the illusion of control in a world that is often dominated by forces beyond one’s understanding or influence, such as economic systems, political structures, or even technological advancements. Mishima’s reflection serves as a reminder of how human life can sometimes feel like an endless struggle against circumstances that seem predestined, where true freedom is an illusion.
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