“To feel that God is indifferent to human sorrow is likely the cruelty of youth.”
- 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
「神が人間の悲しみに無縁であると感ずるのは若さのもつ酷薄であろう」
English
“To feel that God is indifferent to human sorrow is likely the cruelty of youth.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima reflects on the naivety and cruelty of youth, suggesting that youth often leads individuals to perceive God (or higher powers) as indifferent to the suffering of humanity. This perspective, according to Mishima, stems from the emotional distance and lack of empathy often found in youth, where the rawness of personal experience and the complexities of life have not yet been fully encountered or understood. The young, in Mishima’s view, may lack the maturity or wisdom to appreciate the depth of sorrow in human existence, and therefore, may perceive God’s indifference as a reality rather than a human perception shaped by youthful cruelty or inexperience.
Mishima often explored the relationship between youth and emotion, suggesting that youth—with its emphasis on idealism, energy, and rebellion—can sometimes lead to simplistic or harsh judgments about the world and existence. In this case, the perception that God is indifferent to human pain might be an expression of youth’s limited understanding of the complexity of life, where suffering is viewed as a sign of abandonment or neglect rather than a universal and intrinsic part of the human experience. This harsh judgment of God’s supposed indifference is, in Mishima’s view, a reflection of youth’s emotional rawness and the inability to empathize with the nuances of human sorrow.
In a modern context, this quote can be interpreted as a commentary on the existential challenges that come with growing older and confronting the suffering of others. As people age, they often come to realize that sorrow is an inevitable part of life and that the question of divine indifference may not be as simple as it seems in youth. Mishima’s words challenge us to reflect on the role of experience and maturity in shaping our views on suffering, faith, and human existence. Today, as we encounter more discussions about the nature of pain, God’s role in suffering, and the meaning of life, Mishima’s insight into the youthful perception of divinity remains relevant as it encourages a deeper reflection on the complex relationship between youth, suffering, and spiritual understanding.
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