“The speed of forgetfulness and the shallowness of emotions that disregard the importance of anything are the first signs of human aging.”
- 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
「忘却の早さと、何ごとも重大視しない情感の浅さこそ、人間の最初の老いの兆だ。」
English
“The speed of forgetfulness and the shallowness of emotions that disregard the importance of anything are the first signs of human aging.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima reflects on the early signs of aging not in terms of physical decay, but through a shift in emotional response and mental engagement. He suggests that the quickness of forgetfulness—the tendency to lose interest or forget things rapidly—coupled with an emotional shallowness that causes one to no longer care deeply about significant matters, signals the beginning of aging. This emotional decline, marked by apathy and a lack of depth in one’s feelings, is framed as the first and perhaps most subtle sign of getting older. For Mishima, aging begins not with the decay of the body but with the dulling of one’s emotional sensitivity and perception.
The idea that forgetfulness and a lack of emotional depth are early markers of aging suggests that youth is characterized by an intensity of feeling, an ability to hold on to important experiences, and a deep investment in life. In contrast, as people age, they may begin to detach from emotional experiences, dismissing their significance or letting them fade quickly. Mishima seems to imply that this emotional distance and indifference toward what was once important is not just a physical symptom but a spiritual decline—a loss of engagement with the world and its complexities. This apathetic attitude marks the first step in aging, a mental and emotional process that precedes the physical changes of old age.
In modern terms, Mishima’s perspective can be seen as a reflection on how many people, as they grow older, may experience a shift in their relationship with life, becoming less inclined to engage deeply with their surroundings or to invest emotionally in their experiences. The fast pace of modern life and the constant distractions of technology can exacerbate this sense of detachment, where people feel increasingly disconnected or disinterested in what once mattered. Mishima’s quote serves as a reminder that emotional vitality and a deep connection to life are crucial elements to preserve, not just for youth, but throughout one’s life, in order to avoid the apathetic decline that he sees as the early onset of aging.
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