“Thinking that just being alive is happiness, while living a miserable life—that’s the mindset of a slave.”
- 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
「ひどい暮しをしながら、生きているだけでも仕合せだと思うなんて、奴隷の考えね。」
English
“Thinking that just being alive is happiness, while living a miserable life—that’s the mindset of a slave.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima critiques a mindset of passive acceptance in the face of suffering or adversity. He suggests that individuals who endure hardship and misery while contenting themselves with mere survival are embracing a subservient or slave-like mentality. Rather than striving for freedom, dignity, or self-determination, they are content with existing without seeking to improve or change their circumstances. This view is described by Mishima as a form of slavery, where the individual is subjugated not necessarily by external forces but by a mentality that tolerates suffering without a desire for change or liberation.
Mishima’s critique is directed at a fatalistic and self-defeating attitude that he perceives as dangerous. In his view, simply accepting life’s suffering without striving for improvement or self-empowerment diminishes the human spirit and aligns individuals with a subjugated existence. The contrast between slavery and freedom is central to Mishima’s worldview, where he often explored the tension between individual agency and the constraints imposed by society or circumstance. The quote reflects his belief that humans should actively engage with their circumstances and aspire to something greater, rather than passively accepting hardship as their fate.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words can be seen as a criticism of complacency in the face of societal or personal suffering. In an era where many people endure economic hardship, social injustice, or personal struggles, this quote serves as a reminder that true freedom and happiness come not from mere existence but from the active pursuit of change, growth, and self-determination. Mishima challenges the tendency to justify or normalize suffering and encourages individuals to reject the mindset of a slave in favor of striving for a life of purpose and empowerment.
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