“If human nature did not have forgetfulness, and the glorification of the past that accompanies it, how could humans endure life?”
- 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
「人間性に、忘却と、それに伴う過去の美化がなかったとしたら、人間はどうして生に耐えることができるであろう。」
English
“If human nature did not have forgetfulness, and the glorification of the past that accompanies it, how could humans endure life?”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima reflects on the psychological mechanisms that allow individuals to cope with the challenges and sufferings of life. He suggests that forgetfulness, along with the tendency to glorify the past, plays a crucial role in helping people endure the hardships of the present. Forgetfulness allows individuals to move past painful experiences, while the idealization or romanticization of the past provides a sense of comfort or escape, making life more bearable. Without these mechanisms, Mishima implies, humans would be overwhelmed by the weight of their current struggles and the unresolved emotions of the past.
Mishima’s observation touches on the psychological resilience that humans develop in order to survive life’s challenges. By forgetting or altering the way we remember past pain or trauma, we create a buffer that protects us from being consumed by our negative experiences. This ability to reframe the past allows us to move forward, finding meaning or comfort in our memories rather than being trapped by them. Mishima acknowledges that this process of glorifying the past can be a form of self-deception, but also an essential coping strategy for maintaining mental well-being in an often harsh and difficult world.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words resonate with how individuals today cope with the pressures of modern life—from stressful work environments to personal challenges. The tendency to look back on the past with nostalgia can be seen in the way people often idealize their youth or certain experiences, even if those times were not without their difficulties. The idea of forgetfulness and beautification of the past as coping mechanisms is particularly relevant in an era marked by constant change and uncertainty, where reflecting on the past can offer a sense of stability and comfort. Mishima’s insight reminds us of the psychological need to balance the weight of the present with the comforting power of memory and selective forgetfulness.
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