“If the amplitude of human emotions is infinitely expanded, it becomes the emotion of nature, and eventually it becomes the law of nature.”
- 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
「人間の感情の振幅を無限に拡大すれば、それは自然の感情になり、ついには摂理になる。」
English
“If the amplitude of human emotions is infinitely expanded, it becomes the emotion of nature, and eventually it becomes the law of nature.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima explores the idea that human emotions, when taken to their extreme or infinite limits, can transcend individual experience and become something larger, akin to the fundamental forces of nature. He suggests that emotions like passion, anger, or love—when pushed beyond their usual bounds—can become universal forces that shape and govern not just individual lives, but nature itself. In this way, human emotions, rather than being mere internal experiences, are deeply connected to the natural world and ultimately influence or align with the cosmic order or laws of nature. Mishima’s perspective emphasizes the power and universality of human emotions, suggesting that at their most intense, they resonate with the fundamental laws of existence.
Mishima often explored the tension between the individual and the universal. Here, he connects personal emotions to universal principles, hinting that the emotional extremes that humans experience are not just fleeting or personal, but part of a larger, cosmic order. This concept suggests that emotions like rage or love, when felt deeply and unrestrained, can become forces of nature—powerful and inevitable. In Mishima’s view, these emotions are not merely human constructs, but have an intrinsic connection to the larger patterns of the world, eventually becoming part of the law or principle that governs everything.
In a modern context, this quote could be interpreted as a reflection on the power of human emotion in shaping both the individual and the collective experience. It may also encourage consideration of how intense feelings, whether love, anger, or fear, can drive individuals or even societies to transformations that seem in harmony with broader natural forces or societal shifts. Mishima’s words urge us to reflect on the universality and transformative power of emotions, and how they can both shape personal lives and influence the world at large. The quote suggests that emotions, when experienced to their fullest, can become universal truths or laws that govern both human existence and the natural world.
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